On October 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) issued a final rule updating payment policies, payment rates,
and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare
Physician Fee Schedule on or after January 1, 2016, which includes
establishing separate payment and a payment rate for two advance
care planning services provided to Medicare beneficiaries by
physicians and other practitioners. CMS released a fact sheet on the rule.
As previously discussed
here, this new payment policy will provide payment for the time
spent with Medicare beneficiaries helping them better understand
available care options and make important decisions that give them
control over the type of care they receive and when they receive
it.
The new Fee Schedule is the first one to be released since the
repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, as previously
discussed
here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.