Medicare Drops a 19% Pay Bump for Doctors Who Actually Talk to Smokers
Medicare is proposing a 19% pay increase for doctors who counsel patients on quitting smoking and drinking, aiming to make these conversations more common during routine visits.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule that would boost reimbursement for physicians who provide counseling on cigarettes and alcohol during standard appointments [199068]. Currently, many doctors skip these discussions because they are not well compensated [199068]. The higher payment is designed to encourage more physicians to offer this help, targeting two major health risks: smoking, the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and excessive alcohol use, which contributes to chronic diseases and accidents [199068]. The change is not final and is open for public comment before taking effect [199068]. If approved, it could reshape how primary care doctors address addiction [199068].