The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published the proposed rule for the Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which included a proposed arbitrary 50% cut for services reported on the same day with Modifier 25. The proposal contradicts longstanding National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) and CPT® policies, undermines appropriate payment for separately identifiable evaluation and management (E/M) services, and threatens practice sustainability and patient access.
Modifier 25 increases patient access to care by enabling physicians to manage multiple conditions in a single patient visit. This flexibility is particularly important for podiatrists, as their patients often present with multiple, unrelated foot conditions at the same time.
APMA helped form the Same Day Care Coalition with national physician and patient organizations to oppose CMS’ proposed Modifier 25 payment cuts. APMA played a leading role in coordinated policymaker engagement, ensuring podiatry’s concerns were represented in broader physician advocacy.
APMA President Patrick DeHeer, DPM and other APMA leaders met directly with CMS and White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials to urge CMS to withdraw the proposal.
APMA President Patrick DeHeer, DPM and other APMA leaders met directly with several congressional offices.
APMA submitted formal comments to CMS in response to the agency’s proposed changes to payments using Modifier 25 and other changes in the CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
APMA and partners in the Same Day Care Coalition met with several congressional offices and led a sign-on letter with 74 members of Congress signing on to urge CMS to withdraw the proposal.
APMA and partners in the Same Day Care Coalition met with CMS, OMB, and White House Domestic Policy Council Staff.
APMA led a letter with state components and partner societies and joined another letter representing 150+ national and state medical societies to urge CMS to withdraw its proposed Medicare Cuts to Same-Day Care.
APMA’s members and their patients have been essential partners in this advocacy effort.
Over 6,300 letters from podiatrists, patients, and students were sent to Congress and CMS opposing the proposed cuts to same-day care.
Podiatrists will not be able to cover the cost of delivering care.
Podiatrists’ ability to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care during a single visit will be reduced.
Solo, small, and rural independent podiatry practices will face increased pressure to close or consolidate given additional financial strain.
Patient access to foot and ankle care will be severely impacted.
The comment deadline for CMS ended on September 14th, but Congress can still influence CMS’ rulemaking. Send a letter opposing the proposed cuts to same-day services to your members of Congress by using our eAdvocacy alerts below:?
Members of Congress also need to hear from patients about what the proposed cuts to same-day services would mean for them. APMA has created an eAdvocacy alert for them to use and a flyer with that alert for podiatrists to put in their practices:
For questions about the proposal or APMA advocacy efforts, please contact the APMA Advocacy Team at advocacy@apma.org.