On November 1, 2022, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published both the annual Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule and the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule.  Both rules finalize payment and policy changes which will take effect January 1, 2023.  Both final rules include several policies which may significantly impact physiatry. 

Earlier this year, your Academy submitted detailed comments to CMS regarding the MPFS proposed rule.  The MPFS rule finalizes a 4.48% decrease to the 2022 conversion factor, a change from $34.61 in 2022 to $33.06 in 2023.  This is a statutorily required cut to overall physician payment, which can only be prevented if Congress intervenes as it did last year.  Your Academy has been advocating for Congressional intervention on this issue since the release of the MPFS proposed rule this summer.  Further, AAPM&R is advocating for physician payment reform to better address the annual threats to physician payment.     

Your Academy staff is currently reviewing the final rules in detail.  In the coming weeks, the Academy website will be updated to include additional information about the impact of the rules.  In the meantime, comprehensive fact sheets are available for the MPFS final rule and the OPPS final rule on the CMS website.