APMA submitted comprehensive comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, advocating for policies that support podiatric practices and protect patient access to care.
APMA estimates that the combined impact of the proposed rule could result in an approximately 6-percent reduction in Medicare payments across podiatric physicians in 2027. APMA urged CMS to mitigate these reductions and work with Congress and the physician community toward long-term reforms that provide stable, sustainable Medicare physician payment.
A major focus of APMA’s comments was CMS’s proposal to reduce payment for appropriately reported same-day services involving Modifier 25. APMA strongly urged CMS to withdraw the proposal, citing its disproportionate impact on podiatrists, lack of supporting evidence, and potential consequences for patient access and practice sustainability.
These comments build on APMA’s broader advocacy effort on Modifier 25, including meetings with CMS, White House staff, and Congress, collaboration with a coalition of more than 20 physician and patient organizations, and a separate sign-on letter from APMA state components and national podiatric organizations. More than 6,200 letters were sent to Congress and CMS from podiatrists, podiatric medical students, and patients through APMA’s eAdvocacy Action Center!
Beyond Modifier 25, APMA weighed in on numerous policies important to members, including practice expense methodology, global surgical services, code valuations, skin substitutes, remote monitoring, and MIPS requirements. APMA supported policies that reduce unnecessary burden and improve payment accuracy while pushing back on proposals that could adversely affect small and independent practices.
Across the rule, APMA’s message was consistent: Medicare policies should fairly recognize the resources required to provide care and ensure patients continue to have access to podiatrists.