The Latest Health Policy Updates

The CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposes a 2.8% reduction in the Medicare Physician Conversion Factor (CF), continuing a trend of payment reductions over several years. The AMA has emphasized the widening gap between Medicare payments and the cost of delivering care, urging Congress to pass reforms that would permanently strengthen Medicare.

Key Points:

1. Payment Reductions: The proposed CF for CY 2025 is $32.3562, reflecting a 2.79% decrease from 2024. This reduction, despite rising operational costs, will continue to financially strain physician practices.
2. Specialty Impact: While specific specialties, such as Interventional Pain Management, show no changes in RVUs, the reduction in CF will still decrease overall reimbursement.
3. Updates and New Codes: The proposal includes new codes for emerging pain management techniques, such as fascial plane blocks, and updated payment rates for Evaluation and Management (E/M) services, generally reflecting slight reductions.

Table: Proposed Payment Rates for Fascial Plane Blocks

4. Telehealth Changes: Many COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities are set to expire by the end of 2024, potentially reducing access to remote care unless Congress intervenes.

5. G2211: CMS proposes to allow expanded reporting of the outpatient E/M visit complexity add-on code G2211. G2211 can be applied for outpatient visits for complex, longitudinal care, in which the pain physician serves as a central point of care. Further Reading.

6. Medicare Economic Index (MEI): The MEI is expected to increase by 3.6%, highlighting the misalignment between practice cost inflation and Medicare payment adjustments.

7. Payment Rates:

Table: Proposed Payment Rates for E/M Services

9. Regulatory Updates: The AMA response highlights the importance of ongoing regulatory developments, including the expansion of telehealth and advanced primary care models, interoperability standards, and changes to the HIPAA Security Rule.

10. MIPS and MVPs: The transition to MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs) continues, with new pathways introduced for various specialties, aiming to streamline reporting and improve the relevance of performance measures.

11. Request for Information (RFIs): CMS is seeking feedback on various emerging healthcare delivery models, including new payment structures and integration of social determinants of health.

12. Advocacy and Public Comments: The AMA urges physicians to engage in the public comment process to influence the final rule and address the financial challenges posed by ongoing Medicare payment reductions.

Further Reading:

• CY 2025 Medicare PFS Proposed Rule
• Press Release
• Fact Sheet

Read More

The CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposes a 2.8% reduction in the Medicare Physician Conversion Factor (CF), continuing a trend of payment reductions over several years. The AMA has emphasized the widening gap between Medicare payments and the cost of delivering care, urging Congress to pass reforms that would permanently strengthen Medicare.

Key Points:

1. Payment Reductions: The proposed CF for CY 2025 is $32.3562, reflecting a 2.79% decrease from 2024. This reduction, despite rising operational costs, will continue to financially strain physician practices.
2. Specialty Impact: While specific specialties, such as Interventional Pain Management, show no changes in RVUs, the reduction in CF will still decrease overall reimbursement.
3. Updates and New Codes: The proposal includes new codes for emerging pain management techniques, such as fascial plane blocks, and updated payment rates for Evaluation and Management (E/M) services, generally reflecting slight reductions.

Table: Proposed Payment Rates for Fascial Plane Blocks

4. Telehealth Changes: Many COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities are set to expire by the end of 2024, potentially reducing access to remote care unless Congress intervenes.

5. G2211: CMS proposes to allow expanded reporting of the outpatient E/M visit complexity add-on code G2211. G2211 can be applied for outpatient visits for complex, longitudinal care, in which the pain physician serves as a central point of care. Further Reading.

6. Medicare Economic Index (MEI): The MEI is expected to increase by 3.6%, highlighting the misalignment between practice cost inflation and Medicare payment adjustments.

7. Payment Rates:

Table: Proposed Payment Rates for E/M Services

9. Regulatory Updates: The AMA response highlights the importance of ongoing regulatory developments, including the expansion of telehealth and advanced primary care models, interoperability standards, and changes to the HIPAA Security Rule.

10. MIPS and MVPs: The transition to MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs) continues, with new pathways introduced for various specialties, aiming to streamline reporting and improve the relevance of performance measures.

11. Request for Information (RFIs): CMS is seeking feedback on various emerging healthcare delivery models, including new payment structures and integration of social determinants of health.

12. Advocacy and Public Comments: The AMA urges physicians to engage in the public comment process to influence the final rule and address the financial challenges posed by ongoing Medicare payment reductions.

Further Reading:

• CY 2025 Medicare PFS Proposed Rule
• Press Release
• Fact Sheet

Pain Medicine Coalition

ASRA Pain Medicine and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) established the Pain Medicine Coalition (PMC) in 2024 to advance the common goals of the pain medicine community and to advocate for responsible pain care for all patients. The International Pain & Spine Intervention Society (IPSIS) and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) are also members of the coalition. Its purpose is to develop, monitor, and advocate for responsible health care policy for people who experience both acute and chronic pain and the physicians who support them. They do their work through clinical care, education addressing quality of care, access to care, public and professional education, and research. 

Read more about the Pain Medicine Coalition:

ASA and ASRA Pain Medicine: Speaking With One Voice

President’s Message: The Power of ASRA Pain Medicine Volunteers

Are You a Member of AMA?

The American Medical Association (AMA) is the nation's largest physician organization and works to advocate for key issues that matter in your practice such as prior authorization, Medicare reform, promoting physician-led work, and more. ASRA Pain Medicine works with the AMA to advocate for the issues that matter in your practice with representation in the AMA House of Delegates, the Relative Value Scale Update Committee, and the Current Procedural Terminology Committees. ASRA Pain Medicine provides expert information and testimony specific to regional anesthesia and acute and chronic pain. 

Learn more about the benefits of membership in AMA.

Read the latest AMA news and sign up for news alerts at ama-assn.org.