Medicare Physician Payments Down 19% In First Half Of 2020

During the first half of 2020, Medicare payments to physicians were 19% below the spending level predicted before March 13, 2020, the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic public health emergency. By April 2020, Medicare spending on physician services was 57% below expected pre-pandemic levels. By June 2020, Medicare spending recovered, but was still 12% lower than expected. Expected spending was $48.4 billion, and actual spending was 19% lower at $39 billion, representing a cumulative drop of $9.4 billion during the first six months of 2020.

Medicare spending on physician services decline across all . . .