CMS Exclusion of Global Period Visits From E/M Payment Reform: Estimated Payment Loss for Pediatric Otolaryngologists

Abstract

In an effort enhance reimbursement for cognitive specialties, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) increased the payment for outpatient and inpatient E&M services in 2021 and 2023, respectively. Notably, visits during the postoperative global period were excluded from this increase. It is well-established that pediatric subspecialties, including pediatric otolaryngology, are less well-compensated than their adult counterparts. In this study, we estimated the potential annual revenue increase per academic pediatric otolaryngologist had CMS included global period visits in its revaluation.