The American College of Radiology (ACR) on July 23 sent a letter to U.S. congressional leadership urging that the existing 3.75% increase to the conversion factor currently in play in the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) be retained through 2023.
The letter was signed by 109 organizations that represent more than one million healthcare providers in the U.S., the ACR said.
A decrease in the conversion factor for 2022 would negatively affect patient care, according to the ACR and its cosigners.
"Congress' willingness to ensure greater financial stability in the Medicare program for 2021 -- by mitigating significant cuts generated within the MPFS via a 3.75% conversion factor increase for all services -- avoided significant disruptions to care for Medicare beneficiaries, supported small health care businesses ... and provided a lifeline for health care providers still reeling from the residual impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic," the group wrote. "Unfortunately, this temporary measure did not address the ongoing structural problems with the MPFS, and the provider community is again bracing for steep cuts in 2022, which could result in many beneficiaries losing timely access to essential health care services. To avoid this scenario, our organizations urge Congress to maintain the 3.75% increase to the conversion factor through at least calendar years 2022 and 2023."
