In January 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the implementation of a new add-on code, G2211. This code is intended to acknowledge the costs associated with evaluation and management visits, mainly in primary care, where longitudinal care is common. The focus on longitudinal care is to build long-lasting and trusting relationships between patients and providers to increase the likelihood of the patient complying with medical treatment recommendations. 

Implementation of the G2211 code has impacted all other payments under the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule due to legal budget neutrality requirements. We support the usage of the G2211 code and believe there needs to be additional funding to support the existence of the code. Furthermore, while inflation continues to increase, Medicare physician reimbursement decreases, with no inflation adjustment.  

All providers except Medicare physicians are scheduled to receive Medicare payment updates in 2024. The inflation rate for Medicare physicians is up 4.6%, however, their reimbursement rate is decreasing by 3.4%, with no adjustment for inflation.  

If the Medicare physician reimbursement cut is not reversed, access to patient care will be in danger. Even though codes like G2211 exist to improve patient-provider relationships, if additional funding is not acquired to cover the use of the code and to adjust Medicare physician reimbursement rates based on inflation, patients will have a difficult time accessing care in the future. Take action now by contacting your members of Congress today and demand that they reverse these cuts as part of the upcoming 2024 appropriations package. 

For more information on the Medicare physician payment issue and the looming government shutdown, check out the Zotec Answers podcast.