Survey Finds Many GIs Have Reduced Time Spent with Patients
Elimination of Medicare’s consultation codes has negative impact on docs
The elimination of Medicare’s consultation codes has had a negative impact on physician efforts to improve care coordination and reduced the treatment options available to Medicare patients, according to a new survey released by AMA, AGA and other medical specialty societies.
Consultation codes are used most frequently by specialists after a patient referral from a primary care physician. In April 2010, AGA, ASGE and ACG participated in this AMA-sponsored survey. View a topline report on GI results.
After analyzing survey data, AGA, AMA and representatives of these specialties identified several technical improvements that would make the policy more equitable. We, along with AMA, joined numerous other specialties in a letter outlining our concerns and asking CMS to review and modify its current policy to prevent further deterioration of care coordination between physicians.
“AGA members surveyed indicated that their total revenue stream has decreased as a result of Medicare's decision to eliminate the use of consultation codes,” said Robert Burakoff, MD. “Many GI physicians have had to modify their practices as a result, reducing the time spent with Medicare patients, deferring the purchase of new equipment and technology, and eliminating office staff.”
The survey indicates that the approximately 5,500 physicians who completed the survey have been forced to take a number of cost-cutting steps to offset revenue losses associated with the elimination of these codes. Highlights from the survey include:
- Three out of every 10 have already reduced their services to Medicare patients or are contemplating cost-cutting steps that will impact care.
- One-fifth have already eliminated or reduced appointments for new Medicare patients.
- Nearly two-fifths will defer the purchase of new equipment and/or information technology.
- More than one-third are eliminating staff, including physicians in some cases.
- Following CMS’ suggestions that they no longer need to provide primary care physicians with a written report, about 6 percent have stopped providing these reports, while nearly another 19 percent plan to stop providing them.
These are real-world examples of the impact of this policy change on Medicare patients and physician offices in the medical specialties that participated in the survey.
