Aug. 31 Is Last Day for Comments on Medicare's 2010 Physician Fee Schedule

Monday is the last opportunity for AAFP members to comment on CMS' proposed 2010 Medicare physician fee schedule, which was published in the July 13 Federal Register (307-page PDF; About PDFs).

Family physicians in particular would benefit from the proposed alterations to the schedule. CMS estimates that the changes would result in an 8 percent increase in family physician payments. Changes in the proposed rule that would affect FPs include

Cuts in the fee schedule for subspecialist services are generating some backlash from those groups. According to the American College of Cardiology, its members sent more than 1,500 e-mails, faxes, letters and phone calls to congressional offices across the country to protest proposed cuts to cardiovascular services.

The AAFP is providing a template letter (2-page Word file; About Downloading) that members can use to convey their personal messages to CMS regarding the proposed fee schedule.

Members also can send comments to CMS via the federal government's Regulations.gov Web site. AAFP's Connect for Reform initiative offers a direct link for members to access and read the rule and even facilitates submission of electronic comments. All comments on CMS' proposed 2010 Medicare physician fee schedule must be received by CMS by 5 p.m. EDT on Aug. 31.