Medicare Physician Fees: The Data Behind the Numbers

Authors

Laura A. Dummit, George Washington University

Document Type

Issue Brief

Publication Date

7-22-2010

Abstract

Medicare’s physician fee schedule distributes nearly $60 billion annually and is a critical determinant of individual physicians’ incomes, beneficiaries' access to health care services, and Medicare spending, as well as the basis for physician fees used by many private payers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) relies on data derived from expert judgment and other sources to update the fee schedule. Although CMS’s methods and data for maintaining the fee schedule have improved over the years, concerns remain about medical specialty society involvement and the lack of an effective ”counterweight” to vested interests in establishing and updating the relative values in the fee schedule. This issue brief reviews the data used in the fee schedule, including the new, multispecialty practice expense survey, and the role of the American Medical Association/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee.

Comments

Issue brief no. 838

Recommended Citation

Dummit, Laura A., "Medicare Physician Fees: The Data Behind the Numbers" (2010). National Health Policy Forum. Paper 245.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/sphhs_centers_nhpf/245

Open Access

yes