Making Primary Care Count: Intended and Unintended Consequences of the Evaluation & Management Payment Change

This study will investigate the impact of the E&M payment changes implemented in the Medicare program in January 2021 on beneficiary access to primary care and specialty services, total Medicare spending, the distribution of payments between specialists and primary care physicians, physician labor supply decisions and the complexity level coded for billed visits. Findings will inform discussions about the budget neutrality of the payment change and the relationship between payment, access to care and clinical workforce adequacy.