Medicare Cuts Physician GI Procedure Fees Over 22% While Facility Payments Rise

Between 2018 and 2023, Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians performing gastrointestinal procedures such as colonoscopies and esophagogastroduodenoscopies decreased by over 22% when adjusted for inflation. Conversely, payments to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) for these procedures either remained stable or increased, with ASC payments rising over 20%. This divergence has widened the financial gap between professional physician fees and facility payments.
The reduction in physician reimbursements coincides with a notable shift in practice ownership structures, with employed physicians increasing from 42% in 2012 to 58% in 2024. Industry experts stress the importance of raising awareness among early-career physicians about these reimbursement trends and their potential impact on the economics of independent practice ownership.