American College of Rheumatology Disappointed in Same-Day E/M Payment Cut, Reductions in Provider Reimbursement Included in Final Medicare Payment Rule from CMS

ATLANTA – The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today issued the following statement in response to the final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for calendar year 2027 (CY27) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

“The continued erosion of Medicare physician payments, combined with policies that fail to recognize the complexity of care provided by rheumatologists, threatens the stability of physician practices and patients’ access to essential care. The “CPT modifier 25” same-day evaluation and management (E/M) policy changes included in the final rule will compound existing challenges by reducing payment for services and procedures provided during the same visit, even when those services require additional time, clinical judgment, and expertise. The rule’s reimbursement cuts follow years of Medicare payment reductions and will place further strain on practices already grappling with rising staffing, supply, and overhead costs,” said William F. Harvey, MD, MSc, FACR, President of the ACR. “We are disappointed that CMS once again failed to ensure that Medicare reimbursement appropriately reflects the resources required to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care. The ACR urges Congress and CMS to pursue meaningful, long-term payment reforms that account for the real cost of practicing medicine and protect access to specialty care, particularly for patients in rural and underserved communities.”

Media Contact
Teri Arnold
Director, Public Relations & Communications
757-272-7002
tarnold@rheumatology.org

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About the American College of Rheumatology
Founded in 1934, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a not-for-profit, professional association committed to advancing the specialty of rheumatology that serves nearly 10,500 physicians, health professionals, researchers and scientists worldwide. In doing so, the ACR offers education, research, advocacy and practice management support to help its members continue their innovative work and provide quality patient care. Rheumatology professionals are experts in the diagnosis, management and treatment of more than 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases.