Getting paid: Thousands of providers face lower fees as result of work GPCI cuts

Why This Topic Matters

It helps readers understand why some providers saw lower Medicare reimbursement in 2018, what policy changes caused the shift, and why future legislative action could affect payment levels and timing.

Article Sections

1. Medicare fee changes and the expired GPCI floor

   Explains the locality-based Medicare payment adjustment issue and why certain areas saw lower professional fees when a temporary floor expired.

2. Examples of reimbursement impact

   Provides broad examples of how the payment change affected Medicare fee calculations in select localities and mentions the physician fee schedule context.

3. Watch Congress for fixes

   Reviews expected federal legislative responses, including broader extender legislation and related expired Medicare and health policy items.

4. Potential offsets and broader policy trade-offs

   Discusses the fiscal and policy considerations surrounding possible budget offsets and the uncertainty around timing of any fix.

5. Retroactive restoration possibilities

   Covers the possibility that any restored payment policy could be applied retroactively and the operational implications for providers.