ASA Joins 53 Other Organizations to Oppose Medicare Cuts

On Monday, November 6, the American Society of Anesthesiologists joined 53 other organizations representing physicians and other health care providers in a formal communication to Congressional leaders asking for action to stop a drastic Medicare payment cut based on the 2024 Medical Physician Fee Schedule final rule that was released November 2. These significant cuts will compound the financial strain anesthesia groups are already facing and harm seniors’ access to surgical care.
 
In the letter (PDF), the organizations ask for Congress to take action immediately to stop the full 3.4% cut in the absence of long-term reform to fix Medicare’s broken payment system.  Specifically, due to budget neutrality requirements, the majority of the cut is created by the decision to increase payments for primary care services through the creation of the new G2211 code – a special bonus payment for evaluation and management services in primary care services.  While ASA acknowledges a desire for additional investments in primary care, these increases are being paid for by an across-the-board cut to surgical, anesthesia, pain, critical care, radiology and other non-primary care services.  It is imperative that Medicare patients have access to the full range of essential health care services.  
 
ASA is committed to advocating for changes to the broken Medicare payment system and ensure that anesthesiologists and pain medicine physicians are paid fairly. In the meantime, ASA strongly urges immediately Congressional action to avert these steep cuts in 2024.
 
Please take action by sending a message to your lawmaker on the importance of stop these drastic cuts.