How Well Do Medicare Payments to Neurologists Match Services Provided?

Following the release of data on provider and service payments from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, researchers examined the types of services provided by neurologists and typical payments for these services, compared with other specialties.

The primary findings indicate that neurologists continue to receive the majority of Medicare income from evaluation and management (E/M) services (two thirds of neurologists receive 60% or more of their payments from E/M), but that reimbursement to neurologists for doing procedures is higher. Neurologists have been excluded from two federal programs that reward other E/M-based specialties.