Laboratory Question for the Week of December 4, 2023

Question:

Will pathology payments be impacted by the final 2024 PFS rule?

Answer:

Yes, unfortunately, payments are expected to go down with the PFS final rule, barring any last-minute legislation by lawmakers. According to the College of American Pathologists, “The finalized 2024 conversion factor used for the fee schedule’s payment formula is $32.7375, representing a 3.39% decrease from the 2023 conversation factor. This decrease can largely be attributed to the implementation of the E/M add-on code G2211 and a 1.25% reduction in payments offered by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.”

However, the college also asserts that, “The CAP clinical labor rate advocacy will help offset the cuts to pathology payment in 2024. Overall, the CMS estimates that pathology payments are expected to decrease by 2% from 2023 to 2024. The CAP continues to aggressively lobby Congress to mitigate these cuts to pathologists for 2024.”