Proposed Changes to Medicare Physician Fee Schedule 2018

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule to update payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) on or after January 1, 2019. Some of the proposed changes include:

1. Streamlining E&M payment with reduction in clinical documentation burden

2 .Recognition of services based on the use of communication technology

3. Creation of a bundled episode of care for substance abuse disorders

4. Flexibility on the use of radiology assistants

5. Removing functional status reporting requirement for outpatient treatment

6. A slight increase of $0.06 per RVU

7. Updating the direct practice expenses based on recent survey

8. Medicare telehealth services

9. Request for information on price transparency

10. Changes to the Quality Payment Program

Here is the link for those interested in learning more about these proposed changes