I think the salaries have always been around 200k for one. For two, I think they have risen about 10% + recently due to the dire need of PCPs that is out there. Nevertheless, they are still not starting in the 300's + for the most part, like many other specialties and while the PCP/hospitalist thing may be hot right now, I think this is a trend that will likely go back to what it was before. Like everything, it's cyclical. Why are their salaries still in the 200's vs what theya re for other specialties? Also there isn't anywhere to go for the most part salary wise with these positions, so you won't see the higher salaries you'll see for other specialties mid career.
If you read the above article it specified that the purpose of the CMS cut is to equalize the specialists salary to the primary care salary.
CMS cuts are not a one year phenomenon. The goal is to take money from the specialists and give to the primary care physicians. If you talk to most cardiologists, radiologists, and surgeons at your hospital they feel that this will happen under the umbrella of bundle payments and hospital employment.
No where does it say that a hospital must pay a radiologist or anesthesiologist $300,000 plus out of residency. In fact, since jobs are so few in these specialties there are radiologists and anesthesiologists taking academic jobs for less than $200,000 in these specialties right now.
Also, politicians do not care or know it takes 5-6 years to become a specialist and 3 years to become a PCP. All they know is that the primary care physicians are on the politicians side to cut specialists salary to fund PCP's salary. Read the CMS report and notice that internal medicine, pediatric, and family medicince actually have an increase in %. Every other specialty has decrease in %. Was that by accident?
Regardless, by the time you are done with residency, if you truly believe that the salary will be the same in this era of Hospital employment, Obamacare, and PCPs working hand in hand with politicians to cut subspecialty salary is a huge leap of faith on your part.