Changes to Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Represent Step Toward Properly Valuing the Role of Primary Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Statement attributable to:
Ada D. Stewart, MD
President
American Academy of Family Physicians

“Overall, the changes to evaluation and management office visits finalized in the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will improve care by allowing and paying for physicians to spend more time with their patients. The AAFP is gratified that CMS has confirmed plans to implement the revaluation of E/M visit codes, and the finalized add-on code for complex visits. Together, these changes ensure payment more accurately matches the inherent complexity and resources required to furnish comprehensive primary care.

“For decades, underinvestment has strained our primary care system, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only further exacerbated things. This increased investment will strengthen our primary care system over the long run. These improvements to E/M office visits will help the tens of millions of Medicare patients who rely on primary care physicians not only for outpatient diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, but also to make up for delays in seeking preventive treatment, vaccinations, and services to manage their chronic conditions.

“We also recognize that CMS is limited in its ability to extend telehealth flexibilities beyond the public health emergency. Telehealth has enabled family physicians to safely and effectively care for patients at home, and we look forward to working with CMS and Congress to preserve all Medicare beneficiaries’ access to telehealth that is part of comprehensive, coordinated care.

“This final rule is a step toward properly valuing the role of primary care in our health care system. We look forward to working with CMS on designing and implementing policies that support the shared goals of improving access to high-quality, comprehensive, and coordinated care.”

Editor's Note: To arrange an interview with Dr. Stewart, contact Megan Moriarty, 800-274-2237, Ext. 6052, or mmoriarty@aafp.org.

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About the American Academy of Family Physicians
The AAFP is the largest national association of family physicians, representing 124,500 physicians and medical students. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on impactful care for people of all ages, races and genders across all medical conditions. The AAFP supports every stage of a family physician's career and provides evidence-based resources, advocacy and community to empower family medicine. To learn more, visit aafp.org. For information about health care, medical conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s patient education website, familydoctor.org.