Medicare also expands the Diabetes Prevention Program
On July 7, CMS (@CMSGov) proposed changes to the Physician Fee Schedule to transform how Medicare pays for primary care through a new focus on care management and behavioral health designed to recognize the importance of the primary care work physicians perform. The rule also proposes policies to expand the Diabetes Prevention Program within Medicare starting January 1, 2018.
The annual Physician Fee Schedule updates payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services provided in calendar year 2017. These services include, but are not limited to visits, surgical procedures, diagnostic tests, therapy services, and specified preventive services. In addition to physicians, the fee schedule pays a variety of practitioners and entities, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists, as well as radiation therapy centers and independent diagnostic testing facilities. Additional policies proposed in the 2017 payment rule include:
- Primary care and care coordination
- Mental and behavioral health
- Cognitive impairment care assessment and planning
- Care for patients with mobility-related impairments
For More Information:
- Proposed Rule (CMS-1654-P): Comments due no later than 5 pm on September 6, 2016
- Fact Sheet
- Blog
- Diabetes Prevention Program
See the full text of this excerpted CMS press release (issued July 7).
Hospital and ASC: Proposed OPPS Changes for CY 2017
On July 6, CMS proposed updated payment rates and policy changes in the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System. Several of the proposed policy changes would improve the quality of care Medicare patients receive by better supporting their physicians and other health care providers. These proposals are based on feedback from stakeholders, including beneficiary and patient advocates, as well as health care providers, including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and the physician community.
Proposed changes include:
- Addressing physicians’ concerns regarding pain management
- Focusing payments on patients rather than setting
- Improving patient care through technology
- Emphasizing health outcomes that matter to the patient
CMS estimates that the updates in the proposed rule would increase OPPS payments by 1.6 percent and ASC payments by 1.2 percent in 2017.
For More Information:
- Proposed Rule (CMS-1656-P): Comments due no later than 5 pm on September 6, 2016
- Fact Sheet
See the full text of this excerpted CMS press release (issued July 6).