In a recent American Journal of Gastroenterology study, Dr. Dipen Patel and colleagues revealed a troubling trend: Medicare payments to physicians for GI procedures like colonoscopy and EGD fell by over 22% (inflation-adjusted) between 2018 and 2023, while facility reimbursements rose or held steady—fueling fears of healthcare consolidation.
With ASC and hospital outpatient department payments up nearly 20–30% (nominal), independent GI practices are feeling the squeeze. Policymakers and the AMA warn this disparity may be pushing physicians out of private practice and into health systems or corporate ownership. Proposed reforms aim to tie Medicare fee updates to inflation, but legislative movement remains slow.