Consumers First and Partners Comment on CMS 2021 Physician Payment Rule

Consumers First, an alliance that brings together the interests of consumers, children, worker people, employers, and primary care to realign and improve the fundamental economic incentives and design of the health care system, and partners submitted a comment letter to the federal government on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule for Calendar Year 2021. The rule makes changes to how physicians are reimbursed through the Medicare program. Medicare reimbursement rates are often used to set payment rates in Medicaid and by commercial payers.

The comment letter recommends that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services:

• Increase payments for primary care providers and for vaccine administration.
• Ensure health care providers deliver affordable, high quality telehealth services that meet patient needs.
• Develop a coordinated national strategy to address rural telehealth needs across the country.