The proposed changes to reimbursement for Emergency Department utilization would significantly impair long term access to emergency care in Virginia. Emergency Physicians take pride in being available to treat all patients at any time of the day or night. Furthermore, we are legally required to evaluate all patients who seek our care. From life threatening emergencies to minor inconveniences, we resolve to be a constant safety net for our communities. 
If this new fee schedule goes into effect, it would put large holes in that safety net. Included in the list of diagnoses that would be down coded includes true life threatening conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis and status asthmaticus. Patients with those conditions consume considerable amounts of time and resources. The ability to be reimbursed less than $15 for such a visit would lead to issues being able to fund the department. 
This would undoubtedly lead to budget cuts and staffing reduction, which would affect all who seek emergency medical care.