CMS: 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule with Comment Period
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule was placed on display at the Federal Register on August 4, 2020. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted by CMS until October 5, 2020.
Updates have been made to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, with a focus on telehealth services. Telemedicine has seen unprecedented expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 135 services approved for payment through telehealth delivery. Now, certain services may be permanently allowed to be offered on remote platforms as part of an Administration-wide strategy to address health delivery issues, particularly in underserved, rural regions. CMS is seeking comments on potential services to be permanently instated.
Additionally, CMS is proceeding with a proposed rule on outpatient surgery proceedings and a final rule on inpatient rehabilitation facilities, with the intent of creating more flexibility and lower out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries.
To learn more about the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule, click here.