Back in January, I wrote an article regarding E/M codes and the need for changes to the 1995 and 1997 E/M documentation guidelines. In that article, I suggested making E/M codes for office visits solely time-based to simplify the reporting of these very subjective codes. Little did I know that this is what CMS would propose months later.
Hospitals continue to acquire or affiliate more closely with physician practices at a breakneck speed to operate more effectively under value-based purchasing or accountable care organization reimbursement models. But many organizations struggle with how to integrate their different EHR systems, forms, and templates long after the physicians become hospital employees.
This week’s Medicare updates include the Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule, a video on the proposed changes to evaluation and management coding, the July edition of the Patients Over Paperwork newsletter, and more!
Along with quality measure removals in the 2018 OPPS and MPFS final rules, CMS has continued to propose additional removals in the 2019 proposed rules. In addition, the agency is proposing to add to its ability to remove quality measures in the future.
