A proposed federal rule would cut Medicare reimbursement for same-day procedures by 50%, and a Katy family doctor says it could upend how her practice delivers basic care.

Dr. Felicity Mack is a general practitioner at Balance Family Medicine in Katy and a Harris County Medical Society board member. She told ABC13 the change would force patients to schedule separate visits for services now handled in one appointment. Bloodwork, vaccines, EKGs, earwax removal and urine tests could all require a return trip.

The practice is already alerting patients. A sign in the waiting room reads: "Proposed Medicare Changes Could Affect Your Access to Care."

What the proposal would do

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. It would reimburse doctors only half the cost when a separately identifiable office visit and a procedure happen on the same day.

The American Medical Association said the proposal applies the cut to more procedures than a similar 2019 version that was not finalized after pushback from physicians and patient groups.

CMS has not publicly detailed its rationale beyond referencing streamlined payments, according to available records.

The AMA has organized a sign-on letter from nearly every state and national medical specialty society urging CMS to drop the plan. The association noted that Medicare physician payment has fallen roughly 33% since 2001 when adjusted for rising practice costs.

What patients stand to lose

Mack said the ripple effect would extend beyond Medicare recipients. Because Medicare sets the reimbursement standard, commercial insurers typically follow its lead.

Patient Vickie Jetelina, who does not drive and lives about an hour and 15 minutes away in Wharton, told ABC13 the change would mean paying someone to bring her in for each separate appointment. "If I have to come see her for one thing at a time, that means I have to pay somebody to bring me in every time," she said.

Patient Mylo Johnson, a Medicare recipient who described himself as a gunshot victim with a spinal cord injury, called the proposal frustrating and said it makes him feel like decision-makers do not care about patients like him.

How to comment

The Harris County Medical Society is directing physicians and the public to submit comments through its online advocacy page. The deadline is Sept. 14.

CMS is expected to issue a final rule by Nov. 1. Any changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.