AMA: Modify proposed fee schedule to reflect pandemic challenges

CHICAGO — Submitting detailed comments today on the proposed Medicare fee schedule for 2021, the American Medical Association (AMA) warned that some proposed regulations would hurt many physician practices already besieged by the pandemic. 

“During the pandemic, physicians have responded heroically in the face of challenges to keeping their practices open and treating their patients. COVID-19 has exposed weaknesses in our health care system as well as opportunities for improvement,” said AMA President Susan R. Bailey, M.D. “Our comments are intended to ensure physicians can continue providing the highest quality care for Medicare beneficiaries during and after this public health emergency. To achieve this, we recommend that CMS prevent the steep budget neutrality cuts that are pending and continue the forward-looking changes for telehealth patients.”