CMS Finalizes Rule to Advance Health Equity

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized policies to support primary care, advance health equity, assist family caregivers and expand access to behavioral and certain oral healthcare. These policies are included in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, which also provides payment for principal illness navigation services to help patients and their families navigate cancer treatment and treatment for other serious illnesses.

The 2024 PFS final rule includes updates to PFS payments for clinicians as required by law. In accordance with updated factors specified by law, finalized payment amounts under the PFS are reduced by 1.25 percent overall compared to 2023. CMS has also finalized increases in payment for visits for many services such as primary and longitudinal care. Overall, the finalized 2024 PFS conversion factor is $32.74, a decrease of $1.15, or 3.4 percent from 2023.

“The impact of these changes means that people with Medicare will be able to access marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors for behavioral health treatment; access culturally-sensitive care from community health workers, care navigators and peer support workers; access primary care where the provider is invested in a long-term, trusting relationship; and that caregivers for persons with Medicare will have access to appropriate training,” said Meena Seshamani, MD, CMS deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicare. “Taken holistically, these are some of the largest changes ever toward a Medicare that recognizes people with Medicare as whole persons, with their own families and unique life stories. After all, people are more than the sum of their ailments and diagnoses.”