CMS Releases 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

On Dec. 1, the CMS released the 2021 MPFS final rule. Under the proposal, neurosurgeons face overall Medicare payment cuts of approximately 6% beginning on Jan. 1, 2021. The reductions are primarily driven by new values for office and outpatient E/M and other visit codes. The new payment policies will result in a significant budget-neutrality adjustment to the Medicare conversion factor, which will be reduced from $36.0896 in 2020 to $32.4085 in 2021 — a 10.2% reduction. CMS will need to modify the final rule due to the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, on Dec. 21. Details will be forthcoming in the near future.

Click here for a comprehensive summary prepared by the AMA and here for a side-by-side analysis of the proposed and final rules developed by Hart Health Strategies. A CMS press release and fact sheet are available here and here.