CMS Releases Proposed 2014 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the proposed 2014 Medicare fee schedule for physician services on July 8, 2013. A summary of the proposed fee schedule changes follows:
- An approximate 24.4 percent physician payment cut due to the sustainable growth rate formula (SGR)
- Implementation of the physician value-based payment modifier by applying the 2016 modifier to groups of 10 or more eligible professionals (EPs) and requiring large groups to assume risk through the quality-tiering component of the program
- Changes to the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), such as requiring EPs to report at least nine measures covering at least three of the National Quality Strategy Domains and adding a new “qualified clinical data registry” reporting method to the program
- Limitations to the payment for approximately 200 services where the physician fee schedule nonfacility payment is higher than the total payment to furnish the same service in a facility setting (either a hospital outpatient department or an ambulatory surgery center)
CMS will accept public comments on the proposed rule until Sept. 6, and plans to issue a final rule by Nov. 1. To read an in depth analysis of the 2014 proposed physician fee schedule click here.
2013 CMS Physician Fee Schedule Includes Payment for CRNA Chronic Pain Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Calendar Year (CY) 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, which includes the controversial section regarding payment to CRNAs for chronic pain services, has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The rule is scheduled to be issued as a final rule with comment period. This means that, while most of the rule will be effectuated on a final basis (as of 1/1/13), certain provisions of the otherwise final regulation will be subject to further comment from the public, though it is unclear whether the chronic pain proposal will be one of those provisions subject to additional comment.
Following the OMB review, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) expects the final rule with comment to be promulgated on or around November 1, 2012. Most Anesthesiologist oppose this expansion of the scope of services rendered by CRNAs.
