'We cannot continue doing this': Cardiologists react to 2025 fee schedule

After CMS released its finalized 2025 physician fee schedule, which will reduce reimbursements by 2.83%, some cardiologists are raising concerns over what they call an unstable healthcare system, according to a Dec. 9 TCTMD report. 

Here are two takeaways from the report:

  1. Joseph Cleveland, MD, a cardiac and thoracic surgeon at Aurora-based University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center and chair of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Council on Health Policy and Relationships, called for establishing long-term solutions instead of relying on "short-term patches."

    "CMS announces cuts, then stop gap measures are introduced, but physicians are left to suffer the continuing uncertainty," he said in the TCTMD report.

    "This current payment system is just egregious in the sense that it puts patient care and practice sustainability at risk," Dr. Cleveland said. "What CMS, Medicare, and our elected officials are forcing upon America is an unstable and unsure health care system. We cannot continue doing this."

  2. Arnold Seto, MD, chief of cardiology at the Long Beach (Calif.) VA Medical Center and co-chair of the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Advocacy Committee, told TCTMD he believed reform is needed to align Medicare payments across care sites.

    The HR 10136 bill, also known as the "Promoting Fairness for Medicare Providers Act," was introduced in November and would create a payment system for physicians who practice outside of a hospital. Dr. Seto called the bill "more practical" than other solutions currently being considered by Congress.

Read the full report here

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