The American Medical Association (AMA) recently released its specialty impact analysis, which details the collective impact of the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (CAA) on various provider specialties, including allergists. The AMA specialty impact analysis states that in 2023, allergists face a 2% cut in Medicare payments as a result of the 2023 Medicare PFS final rule and the CAA.
If Congress hadn’t acted last year, physician payments in 2023 would have dropped by 8.5%. However, thanks in part to the College’s Advocacy Council and members’ grassroots efforts, we were able to minimize the reduction in Medicare reimbursement. In December of 2022, Congress enacted the CAA, which authorized a 2.5% increase to the Medicare PFS conversion factor in 2023 and averted the 4% statutory PAYGO cut for 2023. These changes resulted in a net 2% reduction of the conversion factor in 2023.
Medicare sequester
Notably, the 2% pay cut for allergists cited in the AMA specialty impact analysis is independent of the 2% Medicare Fee for Service (FFS) sequestration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS temporarily paused the 2% Medicare FFS sequestration reduction. However, the sequestration fully resumed on July 1, 2022, and will continue through 2023.
Impact on allergists and comparison to other specialty types
The AMA’s analysis indicates that allergists face an impact of -2% in 2023. Allergy/immunology was one of 16 specialty groups to experience a 2% cut. Additionally, only two specialty groups – Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery – experience higher pay cuts, each with a combined impact of -3%. On the other end of the spectrum, several specialties had a positive combined impact. Of this group, Diagnostic Testing Facility was the highest at 6%.
The Advocacy Council continues to lobby Congress to pass legislation that provides for annual inflation-based payment updates for physicians.
The Advocacy Council – ADVOCATING FOR ALLERGISTS AND THEIR PATIENTS.
