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We thought the final list of quality measures for year two of the merit-based incentive payment system was a done deal. That is, until late yesterday, when members of our IT team pointed out two new codes in the April 1 HCPCS update: G9890 (E/M bridge payment) and G9891 (E/M session reporting).

Medicare has made life easier for clinicians considering using a QCDR to submit their MIPS quality performance information.

As Part B News reported, last month's the Bipartisan Budget Act fixed some problems with GPCIs in 52 localities and claims that exceeded the therapy cap nationwide that reduced payments for thousands of providers. Yesterday CMS officially acknowleged those changes.

 
The window on patients being able to carry so-called skimpy insurance plans may get larger after CMS and other federal agencies co-released a proposed rule that would extend the duration of such plans to 12 months. The move might restrict access to some providers and services, notes CMS.
 
 
Poor prep. Gastroenterologists use the term when they can't perform a screening colonoscopy because the patient's lower intestine isn't clean enough. Based on what we're hearing, poor prep describes the efforts of some private payers and Medicare administrative contractors (MACs) to get ready for the new anesthesia codes for gastroendoscopy services (00731, 00732, 00811, 00812 and 00813).

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