Op-Ed: Medicare Is Doing the Right Thing on E/M Payment

MedPage Today October 6, 2020
James C. Stevens, MD, and Ellen M. Gravallese MD

— But we’re not across the goal line yet

Individuals living with chronic diseases — including rheumatic diseases and those that affect the neurologic system — depend on medical specialists for highly skilled care. Along with performing procedures, these specialists spend many hours each week conducting face-to-face (and increasingly, telehealth) visits with patients, at which they discuss, diagnose, and monitor a patient’s reaction to treatment. Known as “evaluation and management” or E/M services, these services are crucial to the diagnosis and management of complex and chronic conditions.

Historically, these types of services have been undervalued by the Medicare program. A 2018 report from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) found that E/M services are under-compensated by Medicare, with some estimates...

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