On July 13, 2021, CMS has proposed a new rule that would update the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and seek more health equity and telehealth utilization among physicians.
The proposed rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule would also implement a $33.58 conversion factor next year, a decrease of over $1 compared to 2021. Conversion factor reduction of 3.75% from $34.89 in 2021 to $33.58 in 2022 for a $1.31 reduction.
With the proposed budget neutrality adjustment to account for changes in RVUs (required by law), and expiration of the 3.75 percent payment increase provided for CY 2021 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), the proposed CY 2022 PFS conversion factor is $33.58, a decrease of $1.31 from the CY 2021 PFS conversion factor of $34.89. The PFS conversion factor reflects the statutory update of 0.00 percent and the adjustment necessary to account for changes in relative value units and expenditures that would result from our proposed policies.
Evaluation and Management (E/M) Visits
CMS is engaged in an ongoing review of payment for E/M visit code sets. For CY 2022, we are making several proposals that take into account the recent changes to E/M visit codes, as explained in the AMA CPT Codebook, which took effect January 1, 2021.
Telehealth Services under the PFS
As CMS continues to evaluate the temporary expansion of telehealth services that were added to the telehealth list during the COVID-19 PHE, CMS is proposing to allow certain services added to the Medicare telehealth list to remain on the list to the end of December 31, 2023, so that there is a glide path to evaluate whether the services should be permanently added to the telehealth list following the COVID-19 PHE.
Therapy Services
CMS is implementing the final part of section 53107 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which requires CMS, through the use of new modifiers (CQ and CO), to identify and make payment at 85% of the otherwise applicable Part B payment amount for physical therapy and occupational therapy services furnished in whole or in part by physical therapist assistants (PTAs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs), for dates of service on and after January 1, 2022.
CMS is proposing a series of standard technical proposals involving practice expense, including the implementation of the fourth year of the market-based supply and equipment pricing update, changes to the practice expense for many services associated with the proposed update to clinical labor pricing, and standard rate-setting refinements.
For more information, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/calendar-year-cy-2022-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-proposed-rule
Make sure to like, share, and subscribe Billing Executive or visit our website for regular learning about Medical Billing.
Billing Executive offers expert advice on how to choose an EHR, Telehealth Applications, and Medical Billing Companies.
Learn more about Medical Billing and Coding Tips, here.