Changes in Gastroenterology Service Volumes and Billing Patterns Associated With Declining Medicare Reimbursement (The American Journal of Gastroenterology)

A brief report in The American Journal of Gastroenterology (Busam & Shah, October 2025) found that between 2018–2022, Medicare reimbursement for GI procedures fell by 18%. This drop correlated with an 11% decline in procedure frequency and a 7% reduction in the number of gastroenterologists performing each procedure. The study concludes that lower reimbursement is linked with reduced service volumes and physician participation, raising concerns about future access to GI care.