Two major gastroenterology organizations have criticized CMS' proposal to cut physician pay 2.8% in its physician fee schedule for 2025.
The Digestive Health Physicians Association released a statement July 16 opposing the proposal, saying it "follows years of negligible increases, freezes and a payment cut in 2024."
"This is unsustainable for our nation’s medical groups, physicians and other health care providers," the statement said. "The effects of these cuts will be exacerbated in rural and underserved areas, which continue to face significant healthcare access challenges."
The group added that if the proposal is adopted, Medicare payments will have been slashed by more than 7% over the past four years. Additionally, when adjusted for inflation, Medicare payments have declined by 30% in the last 20 years.
The pay cut comes as gastroenterologists are facing skyrocketing colonoscopy demand paired with ever-declining reimbursements. From 2007 to 2022, unadjusted and adjusted average reimbursement for GI procedures dropped by 7% and 33%, respectively, according to the American Journal of Gastroenterology. Reimbursements for colonoscopies and biopsies decreased 38% during that period.
"Independent physicians and our patients deserve a predictable payment system that matches Medicare reimbursement to the cost increases experienced by our private practices and will bring much needed stability to the physician payment system," the DHPA statement said.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy echoed these statements in a July 12 news release.
"Our societies will urge Congress to reverse these unacceptable cuts," the group said.