CMS' 2022 rules update regulations and policy for physicians, and one orthopedic surgeon said he's concerned about how they will affect care this year.
Ask Orthopedic Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting orthopedic care. We invite all orthopedic surgeon and specialist responses.
Next question: What orthopedic technologies do you think will take off this year?
Please send responses to Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CST Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022.
Editor's note: Responses were edited for style and clarity.
Question: How do you anticipate CMS’ 2022 rules will affect orthopedic care this year?
Jason Weisstein, MD. Yavapai Regional Medical Center. (Prescott, Ariz.): Two of the main areas to be concerned with regarding CMS rules this year have to do with cuts in Medicare reimbursement and telehealth. Orthopedic surgeons generally put a tremendous effort at preoperative planning; however, proposed codes do not reflect that.
Arthroplasty surgeons already had a recent price reduction to their fees for joint replacement. With the new rule in 2022, orthopedic surgeons are being forced to work harder, and their income will continue to be negatively affected. There may be less access to care as surgeons look for other revenue streams to maintain financial productivity.
Telehealth was largely motivated as a result of the pandemic, but CMS ought to be making every effort to maintain it even as we come to and end in the pandemic, as well as focus on making telehealth reimbursement on par with traditional evaluation and management codes. Telehealth has enabled surgeons to reach a population in an effective way that benefits the surgeon, patient and the insurer.