Between 2018 and 2023, Medicare payments to physicians for gastrointestinal procedures such as colonoscopies and esophagogastroduodenoscopies declined significantly, with inflation-adjusted cuts of over 22% for both procedures, according to 2024 report in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Here are four more things to know:
1. In contrast, reimbursements to ASCs and hospital outpatient departments either increased slightly or held steady during the same period, creating a widening financial gap between physician and facility payments.
2. While physician pay declined by about 6%, facility payments rose substantially, with ASC reimbursements increasing by more than 20% and HOPDs seeing similar gains.
3.The American Medical Association has connected these declining professional fees with a broader shift away from independent practice ownership, noting that the proportion of employed physicians rose from 42% in 2012 to 58% in 2024, according to a Medscape report.
4. Dipen Patel, MD, lead author of the study and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, told the publication that there is the need to raise awareness among early-career physicians who may not yet grasp the implications of Medicare reimbursement trends.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.