Washington, DC - Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. Once again, CMS is proposing severe cuts to physician reimbursement. This is on top of the 2% reduction that went into effect in 2023, which would have been worse without direct intervention from Congress at the urging of the entire medical community. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is deeply concerned that cuts of this magnitude jeopardize patient care, as well as the financial viability of cardiothoracic surgery practices and hospitals.
“STS and the rest of the physician community will continue to fight for appropriate Medicare reimbursement that keeps up with inflation. Physicians, including those treating the sickest and most comorbid patients, continue to receive across-the-board cuts, while Medicare continues to increase payments to other healthcare sectors automatically. If Medicare and Congress do nothing to stop these devastating cuts, the health and safety of the nation’s seniors will be at risk,” says Thomas E. MacGillivray, MD, STS President, and cardiothoracic surgeon.
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For more information, contact Kathy Cummings, director of communications, at kcummings@sts.org.
Founded in 1964, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 7,700 cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. The Society’s mission is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research, and advocacy.