Physicians and others likely to be affected by the proposed payment and other Medicare policy changes set forth in the “Medicare Program; Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2011” (“2011 Physician Fee Schedule”) proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 13, 2010 Federal Register should review and consider the potential implications, if any, of a series of corrections to the proposed 2011 Physician Fee Schedule (“Corrections”) published by CMS today (August 26, 2010) when evaluating the implications of the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule on their reimbursement and other operations.
The 2011 Physician Fee Schedule previously published in the Federal Register here on July 13, 2010 outlines a detailed series of proposed changes to the physician fee schedule and other Medicare Part B payment policies that CMS is proposing to implement in 2011. Among other things, the proposed 2011 Physician Fee Schedule would:
- Change Medicare reimbursement rules and amounts to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services;
- Interprets and implements certain provisions of both the Affordable Care Act and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008;;
- Discusses payments under the Ambulance Fee Schedule, Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, payments to ESRD facilities, and payments for Part B drugs; and
- Discusses rules regarding the Chiropractic Services Demonstration program, the Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment and Provider and Supplier Enrollment Issues associated with Air Ambulances.
The Corrections published in the August 26, 2010 Federal Register here list a series of corrections to specific provisions of the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule that CMS has identified as necessary to address technical or typographical errors in the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule as originally published in July. Physicians and others evaluating the potential implications of the previously proposed 2011 Physician Fee Schedule should review and take into account these proposed edits as part of their analysis and response.
For More Information or Assistance
If you need assistance with these or other health industry regulatory, reimbursement or other operational or compliance concerns, please contact the author of this update, attorney Cynthia Marcotte Stamer. Ms. Stamer has extensive experience advising and assisting health care providers and other health industry clients with licensure, contracting, reimbursement, compliance, public policy, regulatory, staffing, and other operations and risk management matters. Ms. Stamer also regularly publishes and conducts training on these and other compliance, management and operations matters. You can contact Ms. Stamer to inquire about engaging her services or for information about training or other resources that she provides at (469) 767-8872 or via e-mail here. To get more information about Ms. Stamer and her health industry experience, see here.
Other Recent Developments
If you found this information of interest, you also may be interested in reviewing some of the following recent Updates available online by clicking on the article title:
- Rite Aid Agrees to Pay $1 Million to Settle HIPAA Privacy Case As OCR Moves To Tighten Privacy Rules
- HHS Invites Input On Medicaid Changes To Promote Children’s Health Quality
- New Affordable Care Act Mandated High Risk Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Pool Program Regulations Set Program Rules, Prohibit Plan Dumping of High Risk Members
- 2010 Health Plan Update: Learn What You Must Do Now To Meet Key 2010/2011 Affordable Care Act & Other Federal Health Plan Deadlines
- CMS Rule Clarifies When Outpatient Services Subject to 3-Day Rule & Finalizes FY 2011 Inpatient Payment Rates
- CMS Proposes Changes To Civil Monetary Penalty Rules For Nursing Homes
- Office of Civil Rights Proposes Changes To HIPAA Privacy, Security & Civil Sanctions Rules
- CMS Proposes Rules To Implement Affordable Care Act Required Expansion Of Medicare Preventive Services And Other 2011 Reimbursement Changes
- NCPDP SCRIPT 10.6 Approved As Medicare Part D/Advantage E-Prescribing Option
- Proposed Medicare Rules Will Require Hospitals Honor Patient Visitation Preferences
- IRS Invites Input On Application of New Tax Exemption Requirements For Hospital Organizations Added By Affordable Care Act
- OIG Touts Expanding Health Care Fraud Enforcement Success & Launches New Health Care Fraud Hotline
- HHS Invites Input on Proposed Strategic Framework on Multiple Chronic Conditions
- New Affordable Care Act Health Plan Appeals Regulations Require Health Plan Updates
- Blockbuster & Health Delivery Disability Discrimination Settlements Highlight Need For Tightened Disability Discrimination Risk Management
- Pennsylvania Nurses Vote For Union In NLRB Election Highlights Rising Union Organizing Activity In Health Care Industry
- WellPoint To Ban Coverage Rescissions Before Affordable Care Act Fall 2010 Deadline
- DEA/DOJ Release Interim Final E-Prescribing Rules
- Joint Commission Revises Medical Staff Bylaw Standard
- IRS To Allow Medical Resident FICA Refund Claims
- Rising Enforcement and Changing Rules Require Prompt Review & Update of Health Plan Privacy & Data Security Policies & Procedures
- Pfizer To Pay $2.3 Billion For Fraudulent Marketing In Largest DOJ Health Care Fraud Settlement
- Maximum Penalty For Patient Protection Act Confidentiality Breaches To Rise To $11,000
About Solutions Law Press
Solutions Law Press™ provides health industry and other risk management, legal compliance, management effectiveness and other resources, training and education on human resources, employee benefits, compensation, data security and privacy, health care, insurance, and other key compliance, risk management, internal controls and other key operational concerns. If you find this of interest, you also be interested reviewing some of our other Solutions Law Press resources available for review here. If you or someone else you know would like to receive future updates and notices about other upcoming Solutions Law Press events, please be sure that we have your current contact information – including your preferred e-mail- by creating or updating your profile at here. For important information concerning this communication click here.
©2010 Solutions Law Press. All rights reserved.