Heart Rhythm Society's survey assessing the impact of reductions in Medicare reimbursement for cardiac ablation in the United States.

Abstract

Following its regularly scheduled reassessment of reimbursement schedules, in 2021 the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed reductions in reimbursement for commonly performed electrophysiology ablation procedures, including ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia.1 Although modest reductions had been expected on the basis of gains in efficiency over time, the proposed cuts were drastic. During and after the public commentary period, there was strong objection from the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), American College of Cardiology, American Medical Association’s Resource-Based Relative Value Scale Update Committee, other physician groups, and hundreds of patients, but CMS enacted these reductions on January 1, 2022.