WASHINGTON, DC — The Dialysis Vascular Access Coalition (DVAC) has announced that it has joined a coalition of 22 national medical organizations in calling on congressional leaders to take action to mitigate the proposed reimbursement reductions contained in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). 

As currently drafted, the MPFS will make significant cuts to specialty care providers in the office-based setting. If finalized, the proposed MPFS would impose significant cuts of 8% in 2023 on vascular access services. These steep cuts will force Vascular Access Centers (VACs) to close their doors due to insufficient reimbursement levels. 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LETTER.

DVAC points out that these proposed reimbursement reductions follow the painful cuts instituted over the last several years, including the clinical labor cuts of over 20% in 2022 that are being phased in through 2025.

The letter is addressed to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Finance Committee, House Ways and Means Committee, and House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

The letter states, “Community-based office setting specialty care is a critical part of the nation’s healthcare infrastructure, and we are certain CMS’ reimbursement policy will have repercussions for the future, impacting access and value.”

It continues, “On behalf of the undersigned organizations, a coalition of national medical organizations, representing a broad range of physicians, health professionals and practice managers who care for Medicare beneficiaries in a community-based, office setting, we respectfully urge Congress to begin immediate deliberations to identify and advance policies to mitigate the forthcoming reimbursement cuts. Absent action by Congress, the proposed payment reductions will take effect on January 1, 2023.”

The undersigned organizations stated, “In addition, our members’ payment reductions are compounded by the second year of CMS’ phased in implementation of its clinical labor pricing update, which was finalized in the CY2022 MPFS Final Rule.” 

Dr. Dean Preddie, DVAC’s policy chair, said, “This announcement from CMS is extremely ominous because vascular access is going through a phased-in 20% cut through 2025 on top of a 39% cut in the 2017 PFS. As drafted, this rule will reduce patient options for life-saving care because vascular access centers will be forced to close due to insufficient reimbursement levels.”

Dr. Preddie continued, “We’ve already seen this horror movie and we know how it ends. DVAC is asking Congress to work with CMS on fundamental reforms and to drop these new cuts to the MPFS.” 

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