Have you been under a rock?
This from CAP sorry for bad formatting, but every pathologists should do this. Even ones in training or ones that are completely detached from the business of pathology. Gutting the field is not good for anybody.
July 30, 2013
Your Immediate Action Needed
Fight CMS' Proposal to Make Drastic Cuts to the Physician Fee Schedule in 2014
As you are well aware, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed to radically cut the technical component (TC) and global payments for many anatomic pathology services by over 50% and as much as 80% for certain codes. If CMS finalizes this proposal, it will have devastating results. A 60 day comment period is underway. Our collective voice must be heard to prevent CMS from moving forward.
See the potential impact on your practice by reviewing the impact table.
The CAP is vigorously opposing these proposed payment cuts. Our efforts are focused on three tracks, regulatory, legal, and political. Your help is needed to succeed in our political advocacy efforts. Every Member of Congress must hear from you and your colleagues. Action is needed NOW to prevent these cuts from taking effect.
There are two vital actions you must take today:
1. Email your Member of Congress (sample text below). Tell him or her that you are OPPOSED to the pathology cuts in CMS' 2014 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. Congress must stop CMS from finalizing this misguided policy, which will threaten patients' access to pathology services and eliminate jobs for healthcare workers. Take action!
2. File comments with CMS (sample text below). A sixty-day comment period on the proposed rule is underway. You must take action and provide your comments to CMS before the September 6 deadline. Tell CMS about the impact these cuts will have on your patients and your practice. To submit comments:
a. Go to
www.Regulations.gov
b. Go to search and type in "RIN: 0938-AR56"
c. Click on the "Comment Now" button to write your comment.
Sample Text
Email to Member of Congress:
As a constituent and practicing pathologist, I am strongly opposed to the pathology payment cuts in the 2014 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. CMS proposes to drastically cut the technical component (TC) and global payments for many critical anatomic services by over 50% and some codes as much as 80%. These cuts will have a devastating impact on the practice of pathology, which ensures that millions of Medicare patients get the right diagnosis. Further, these drastic cuts will threaten patients' access to pathology services and could eliminate jobs for healthcare workers.
Congress must make CMS withdraw this proposal, which is severely flawed. Current law requires physician fee schedule values to be resource based. By linking physician payment to the payments for hospital outpatient departments, CMS' proposal violates Medicare law. Further, the cuts would reduce reimbursement below the cost of the components used perform the service. No one can stay in business if their costs exceed their revenue.
As your constituent I am asking you to contact CMS immediately and demand the proposed rule be halted. Congress must stop CMS from moving forward with the proposed pathology cuts.
Sample Text for CMS Comments:
As a practicing pathologist, I am strongly opposed to the drastic cuts for pathology services included in this proposed rule. The cuts will have a devastating impact on the practice of pathology, which ensures that millions of Medicare patients get the right diagnoses.
The proposal fails to account for the resource costs associated with specific physician service codes. Current law requires physician fee schedule payments to be resource based. By linking payment to physicians to payments for hospital outpatient departments, the proposed rule violates Medicare law.
Further, the proposal would reduce reimbursement below the cost of the components used to perform many pathology services. No physician practice can stay in business if their costs exceed their revenue.
The existing AMA-RUC process is the proper way to value physician service codes. It has shown itself to be accurate and fair, and has been thoroughly vetted over many years. CMS should withdraw the proposed rule's cuts to pathology services.
Stay Informed!
Watch for additional alerts and updates from the CAP.
Register now for an exclusive CAP webinar on proposed 2014 PFS: Understanding the 2014 Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule scheduled for Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at 3:00 - 4:30 PM Eastern Time.
2014 Proposed Rule Resource Center
Details on the proposed Medicare physician fee schedule
If you have any questions, please contact Laura Brigandi at (202) 354-7128 or
[email protected].
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