{"id":30235,"date":"2020-10-22T17:06:28","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T17:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.mtelehealth.com\/?p=30235"},"modified":"2020-10-22T17:06:28","modified_gmt":"2020-10-22T17:06:28","slug":"5-changes-cms-should-make-to-2021-medicare-payment-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/5-changes-cms-should-make-to-2021-medicare-payment-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"5 changes CMS should make to 2021 Medicare payment schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The AMA is warning the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that rate-cutting provisions in its proposed 2021 Medicare physician payment schedule pose \u201ca very real threat to the ability of many physicians to deliver health care services to their patients.\u201d<\/p>

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CMS has proposed new office-visit policies that should result in a significant reduction in administrative burdens and provide better recognition of the resources utilized in such visits. But, citing budget-neutrality requirements, CMS is proposing to offset these positive changes by cutting payment rates for some physicians by nearly 11%.<\/p>

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The AMA sent detailed comments to CMS on its\u00a0proposed rule<\/a>, urging the agency to use its authority to waive the budget-neutrality requirements and avert the cuts that will be deeply problematic for physician practices that have experienced severe reductions in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>

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\u201cOur comments are intended to ensure physicians can continue providing the highest quality care for Medicare beneficiaries during and after this public health emergency,\u201d said AMA President Susan R. Bailey, MD. \u201cTo achieve this, we recommend that CMS prevent the steep budget-neutrality cuts that are pending.\u201d<\/p>

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Dr. Bailey also called on CMS to continue its \u201cforward-looking changes for telehealth patients\u201d that allowed so many to continue receiving care without having to leave their homes.<\/p>

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The AMA\u2019s\u00a093-page letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma<\/a>\u00a0includes many recommendations, warnings and applause\u2014though five issues were specifically highlighted.<\/p>

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Don\u2019t offset positive change with harmful cuts<\/strong>. The AMA strongly supports implementation of proposed improvements related to coding and payment for evaluation and management\u00a0(E\/M) physician office-visit services<\/a>.\u00a0But the AMA strongly opposes drastic cuts\u2014in the name of budget neutrality\u2014to payments for specialists with few office visits such as radiologists, pathologists, general surgeons, critical care physicians and anesthesiologists.<\/p>

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Surveys and claims analysis suggest that physician practice revenue dropped by at least 50% between March and May, AMA Executive Vice President and CEO James L. Madara, MD, told Verma in the AMA comment letter. He added that it is \u201ca reasonable assumption\u201d that practice revenue has been reduced by a minimum of 25% from the norm between June and August.<\/p>

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\u201cThese challenges highlight the urgent need for CMS to ensure practices facing severe economic strain and uncertainty can continue meeting the needs of patients during and after the public health emergency,\u201d Dr. Madara wrote.<\/p>

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His recommendations include:<\/p>

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