CardioVascular Coalition Calls for Congress to Intervene in CMS Cuts in Final Physician Fee Schedule Rule for 2021

December 9, 2020—The CardioVascular Coalition (CVC) issued a press release expressing disappointment in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to finalize cuts to specialty providers in the Final Physician Fee Schedule Rule for CY2021, which was announced on December 2.

According to CVC, the CMS decision comes after opposition from patients, providers, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers. In the final rule, Medicare will cut reimbursement rates for vascular surgery (-7%), cardiac surgery (-9%), and interventional radiology (-9%) among other specialties. These reductions will undercut providers’ ability to remain viable during the unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic.

CVC advised that the cuts will ultimately impact patient access to vital specialty services if Congress does not address the issue in the Final Physician Fee Schedule Rule that goes into effect on January 1, 2021.

In its announcement, CVC noted that members of Congress from both parties have consistently spoken out against the now-finalized cuts, introducing two pieces of legislation, H.R. 8702 and H.R. 8505, which would both provide a necessary reprieve for the dozens of specialty providers that are scheduled to see reimbursement reductions in 2021. CVC stated that it supports legislative action to protect a wide array of specialties including vascular surgery, cardiac surgery, and interventional radiology from being cut without affecting the much-needed payment increases for evaluation and management services from going into effect.

“The severe Medicare cuts finalized by CMS are deeply troubling for both patients and providers,” commented Jeffrey Carr, MD, in the CVC announcement. “With America’s health care system under unprecedented stress by the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the absolute worst time to push through new payment cuts. In order to protect patients’ continued access to specialty services, we urge Congress to advance a legislative solution in the next relevant year-end legislative package.

“The clock is ticking. Without quick congressional action, these deep cuts will start impacting America’s specialty providers on January 1. In the interest of protecting Medicare beneficiaries’ health and safety—especially during the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency—we urge Congress to swiftly pass legislation to stop these harmful cuts.” Dr. Carr is cofounder of the Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society and a member of the CVC.