Suggested E/M pay hikes would create fee-schedule winners and losers

Article Overview

This article reviews a Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommendation to increase outpatient evaluation and management (E/M) payments and describes how a budget-neutral fee-schedule adjustment could shift reimbursement across specialties. It is relevant for physicians, practice managers, coders, and reimbursement professionals who track Medicare policy, specialty payment impacts, and annual fee-schedule changes. The article focuses on the broad policy proposal, the expected distribution of winners and losers, and the Medicare context behind the analysis.