Comment on CMS-2026-2377-0001
Josie TourvilleOpposeIndividual
Summary: The commenter opposes the proposed CMS cuts to modifier 25, arguing that reduced reimbursement will harm small independent practices and force patients to attend multiple visits for concerns that could be addressed in a single appointment. They contend that these changes will increase healthcare costs, delay treatment, and disadvantage independent physicians compared to larger hospital systems.
Please oppose CMS cuts to modifier 25. These cuts will significantly harm small, independent practices like the one I work in and reduce our ability to provide efficient, high-quality care. Modifier 25 allows physicians to evaluate and treat multiple concerns in a single visit—something that is especially important in dermatology, where patients often present with both medical and procedural needs.
Reducing reimbursement for these services will force practices to change how care is delivered. Medicare patients will increasingly be required to return for separate visits to address additional concerns that could have been managed during the same appointment. This creates unnecessary delays in diagnosis and treatment, increases healthcare costs overall, and adds frustration for patients—many of whom are elderly and face transportation or mobility challenges.
It is especially concerning that while physician reimbursement continues to decline, hospitals and insurance entities are seeing increases. This imbalance undermines independent practices and shifts care toward larger systems, which will not improve efficiency, healthcare costs, or the patient experience.
Patients deserve timely, comprehensive care—not fragmented visits and delays. I urge you to advocate for fair physician reimbursement and to oppose policies that restrict access to efficient, same-day care for Medicare patients.