Part B News | Editors' Blog

More experts weigh in on the physician fee schedule proposed rule

by: Roy Edroso Aug 14, 2020

Part B News has examined the basics of the 2021 physician fee schedule proposed rule that was released on August 4, and we'll have plenty more analysis and guidance on the topic in the days to come. Meanwhile, here are some reflections on different parts of the rule by some of Part B News' stable of experts.

Two months later, New York medical practice manager still hanging in

by: Roy Edroso Aug 7, 2020

On June 12 Andrea Smith, practice manager for Constance M. Chen, M.D., PC, a boutique plastic and reconstructive surgery office in New York City, told Part B News how their practice was handling its PPE needs in month four of the COVID-19 pandemic. We recently got back in touch to see how she was doing.

QPP updates: MVP Pathways postponed, threshold raised

by: Roy Edroso Aug 4, 2020

The Quality Payment Program is delaying a major overhaul planned for 2021: Its MVP (MIPS Value Pathways) upgrade, which was meant to move participants “away from siloed activities and measures and towards an aligned set of measures that are more relevant to a clinician’s scope of practice,” has been delayed due to “stakeholder concerns” and COVID-19. Instead, CMS will make “additions to the framework’s guiding principles and development criteria” for 2022.

Breaking: CMS proposes 11% cut to 2021 conversion factor, confirms E/M coding overhaul

by: DecisionHealth Staff Aug 4, 2020

You can expect to see wild swings to Medicare pay rates in 2021, according to proposals CMS released this morning. The agency announced a nearly 11% cut to the Medicare physician fee schedule’s conversion factor (CF), dropping it to a rate of $32.26 next year, down from $36.09 in 2020.

Influencing the substantial decrease to the CF are the projected pay increases to the core set of E/M office visit codes (99202-99215). CMS confirmed that the E/M office visit codes remain on track for their first major overhaul in 25 years, according to the proposed 2021 Medicare physician fee schedule.

Go to your room: Counseling patients to isolate after COVID-19 tests is a billable service [Update]

by: Julia Kyles, CPC Jul 30, 2020

CMS and the CDC agree: If your practice is testing for COVID-19, a physician or qualified health care professional should counsel the tested patients about what to do and what to expect while they wait for results, and they can be paid for the counseling.

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