ACR keeps up pressure on changes to E/M payments

The American College of Radiology (ACR) is continuing to pressure members of Congress to try to stop changes in payment levels for evaluation and management (E/M) services that have been proposed in Medicare's 2020 budget.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed a change to payments for E/M codes in its proposed rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for the 2020 calendar year. ACR believes the changes could cut radiology reimbursement for E/M services by 9%, or $450 million a year. The change would amount to $5.6 billion over 10 years, according to the group.

ACR notes that while the change would benefit some physicians, it would hurt those who rarely bill for E/M services, such as radiologists. The group believes that Congress should work to increase E/M payments within the MPFS and, if needed, waive the budget neutrality requirement to make sure that a more equitable solution can be reached that doesn't penalize any specific physician specialty.

ACR noted that legislators have received almost 4,500 emails and more than 450 calls from its members since the group's outreach campaign began last week.