Comment on CMS-2026-2377-0001
Joshua FarhadianOpposeIndividual
Summary: The commenter opposes the proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, arguing that inadequate reimbursement rates will harm patient access and lead to practice consolidation. They specifically oppose the 50% payment reduction for modifier 25 E/M services, stating it undervalues physician work and creates unnecessary costs for patients.
I strongly oppose the proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule because it continues the pattern of inadequate physician reimbursement despite rapidly rising practice costs. Independent physician practices cannot continue providing high-quality care while Medicare payments fail to keep pace with inflation and operating expenses. These ongoing payment reductions will ultimately harm Medicare beneficiaries by reducing access to independent physicians, increasing wait times, accelerating consolidation into hospital-owned systems, and making it more difficult for practices to continue accepting Medicare patients. I also oppose the proposed 50% payment reduction for appropriately reported modifier 25 E/M services. Modifier 25 already requires a significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service, and reducing payment would undervalue legitimate physician work, discourage efficient same-day care, increase unnecessary follow-up visits, add unnecessary costs and inconvenience for Medicare patients, and delay needed diagnosis and treatment. CMS should reject both the overall payment reduction and the modifier 25 proposal and instead adopt payment policies that preserve patient access to timely, high-quality care.