Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care (Jul 2024)

CMS Proposes Increased Reimbursement for Hospitals but a Decrease for Physicians in 2025

  • Richard A. Robbins MD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.13175/swjpccs033-24
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 1
pp. 8 – 9

Abstract

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No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed changes to the fee schedule for 2025 on July 10. Hospital compensation will increase by 2.6% from 2024 for hospital outpatient services and 2.8% for inpatient services (1). In contrast, physician payment will DECREASE 2.8% (2). This continues the trend in CMS reimbursement. Over the past 20 years, physician pay has plummeted by 26% when adjusted for inflation while hospital reimbursement has surged by 70% (3). The proposal drew quick criticism from the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) (3). "With CMS estimating a fifth consecutive year of Medicare payment reductions — this time by 2.8 percent — it's evident that Congress must solve this problem," AMA President Bruce Scott, MD, said. "In addition to the cut, CMS predicts that the Medicare Economic Index — the measure of practice cost inflation — will increase by 3.6 percent. Facing …

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