The Society of Hospital Medicine Welcomes Congressional Relief from Upcoming Medicare Cuts

New Legislation Responds to Society’s Concerns Related to Hospitalist Reimbursement

On Monday December 21, 2020, Congress passed sweeping end-of-year and COVID-19 legislation that included much-needed relief from impending cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Hospitalists were originally slated to receive an estimated 8 percent reduction in their Medicare fee-for-service revenues based on finalized policies in the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. According to Congressional estimates, the legislation would reduce the impact of the cuts by approximately half to two-thirds.

“The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) ensured Congress heard how these cuts in 2021 would negatively impact hospitalists who have been key to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Congress acted to blunt some of the scheduled cut in this year-end legislation,” notes Eric E. Howell, MD, MHM, CEO of SHM. “While we continue to work to ensure hospitalists are appropriately reimbursed, SHM welcomes this update. We look forward to working with the new Congress and new Administration toward a more complete fix to this issue in must-pass legislation next year.”

To learn more about and become involved with SHM’s advocacy efforts, visit hospitalmedicine.org/advocacy.