Family Physicians: Medicare Payment Reform is Critical to Protect Patients, Practices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 1, 2024
Contact:
Julie Hirschhorn
AAFP Public Relations
jhirschhorn@aafp.org
Statement attributable to:
Jen L. Brull, MD, FAAFP
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
“Inadequate Medicare payment rates have created untenable barriers to care for patients and threaten physician practices. While the final 2025 Medicare physician fee schedule aims to strengthen primary care, the underlying deterioration of physician payments negates the impact of these important investments. Sadly, this is the fifth year in a row congressional intervention will be needed to preserve payment. The consequence of this year’s 2.8% reduction is dire, putting practices at risk, exacerbating physician workforce shortages and preventing patients from accessing primary care.
“Family physicians find themselves stuck in gridlock—facing harmful cuts and temporary Congressional intervention year after year. Without an annual inflationary update from Congress, this dangerous cycle will continue and further sever access to care, increase costs and endanger our primary care physician workforce.
“Although the continued reduction to the conversion factor will negatively impact family physicians and their patients, we are encouraged that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to make primary care a priority in this year’s final rule. We’re grateful that CMS will allow payment for the G2211 code when billed on the same day as other services integral to comprehensive primary care, including an annual wellness visit, vaccine administration or any Medicare Part B preventive services. This is a meaningful change that helps provide resources family physicians need to serve as a focal point of longitudinal care for patients.
“We are also pleased CMS finalized the new Advanced Primary Care Management codes for 2025. These new codes are an important step toward achieving hybrid primary care payment within the framework of traditional Medicare. Despite these advances, serious reforms to the fee schedule are needed to ensure adequate funding levels that provide prospective, sustainable payment for primary care.
“The AAFP calls on Congress to act before the end of this year to avert harmful physician payment cuts and work with CMS and the physician community to invest in community-based, physician-led primary care.”
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About the American Academy of Family Physicians
The AAFP is the largest national association of family physicians, representing 128,300 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.