After a thorough analysis, the AMA has weighed in with detailed comments (PDF) on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed policies for the 2023 Medicare physician payment schedule.

The proposed 2023 Medicare physician payment schedule (PDF) shows the agency must work with Congress to avert budget-neutrality cuts and implement an inflationary update for doctors who now are in line to see a 4.42% pay cut in January.

“The AMA is deeply alarmed about the growing financial instability of the Medicare physician payment system due to a confluence of fiscal uncertainties physician practices face related to the ongoing pandemic, statutory payment cuts, lack of inflationary updates, and significant administrative barriers,” says the AMA’s comment letter to CMS.

“The payment system is on an unsustainable path that is jeopardizing patient access to physicians. The resulting discrepancy between what it costs to run a physician practice and actual payment, combined with the administrative and financial burden of participating in Medicare, is incentivizing market consolidation,” the letter adds.

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