Dear Administrator Oz,
On behalf of the Endocrine Society, thank you for the opportunity to submit these comments on the Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2026 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies proposed rule.
Founded in 1916, the Endocrine Society represents approximately 18,000 physicians and scientists engaged in the treatment and research of endocrine disorders, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis, endocrine cancers (i.e., thyroid, adrenal, ovarian, pancreatic, pituitary) and thyroid disease. Many of the patients our members treat are Medicare beneficiaries. We also note that there is currently a shortage of adult endocrinologists across the country which has significantly impacted rural and underserved areas and will continue to rise.1 As a result of this shortage, wait lists to see an endocrinologist can be many months long which negatively impacts Medicare beneficiaries.
Our members also experience some of the lowest salaries of medical subspecialists and often work outside of clinic time due to the complexity of diagnosis and treatment of endocrine conditions. Despite these challenges, endocrinologists have not seen significant increases in Medicare payments in decades. Consequently, the payment policies and other revisions in the MPFS are of significant importance to our members. With this background, we provide comments on the following topics discussed in the proposed rule.
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