October 14, 2020

Senator Susan Collins Urges Congressional Action to Avert Medicare Cuts

The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) continues to lead a coalition of over 50 physician and non-physician providers committed to mitigating the upcoming Medicare payment reductions resulting from revaluation of evaluation and management (E/M) codes within the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

On Oct. 9, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), wrote to both Senate leadership and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee urging Congressional action to waive budget neutrality requirements or hold healthcare providers harmless from the cuts associated with the finalized E/M code policies slated for implementation Jan. 1, 2021.

In her letter, Senator Collins emphasized the negative impact these reductions would have on both physician and non-physician providers and their patients, which are especially devastating as the nation continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Without intervention from Congress or CMS, imaging is facing an 11% across the board reduction to Medicare payments. The ACR and its coalition partners will continue exploring all possible avenues via which to avert these reductions.