Pending uncertainty around Medicare reimbursement rates and the effects of the second COVID-19 wave have left the anesthesia community anxious, but hope remains, Anesthesia Business Consultants wrote in a Nov. 23 blog post.
Anesthesiologists and related-societies heavily petitioned CMS to revise changes to the proposed 2021 Physician Fee Schedules. While the agency typically releases the final rule during the first week of November, delays have pushed back the expected release to Dec. 1.
While uncertainty abounds, ABC noted that CMS has made revisions to its proposed final rule in the past, and pointed to a statement from American Society of Anesthesia President Beverly Philip, MD, who said, "We are grateful for this action by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, and hope that leadership will take action to end the outdated mandate for budget neutrality and instead create stability and support for healthcare providers on the front lines."
ABC also pointed to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine as a of increased case volumes.