GPCI: GAO urges CMS to standardize locality definition; GAO to CMS: Redraw payment localities

Article Overview

This article discusses a Government Accountability Office review of CMS’s geographic payment locality methodology for physician reimbursement. It explains why the issue matters for Medicare payment accuracy, what broad types of alternative locality approaches GAO examined, and how CMS responded to recommendations about standardizing and periodically revising locality definitions. The piece is relevant to physician payment policy, Medicare administration, and coding/reimbursement professionals who track geographic adjustment methods.