CMA/AMA responding to proposed Medicare payment rule On July 12, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and MACRA Quality Payment Program (QPP) rule. This is the first year that CMS is combining the Medicare fee schedule and QPP rules. There are a number of positive elements in the proposed rule. These include: New payments for physician services that are not part of a face to face office visit (virtual check-ins, remote consults of patient videos and photographs, and online consultations with other physicians) ... August 7, 2018 Advocacy, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
A Letter to Doctors from CMS Administrator Seema Verma In a letter addressed to doctors, CMS Administrator Seema Verma reaffirmed the federal agency’s commitment to “turning the tide” of rising rates of physician burnout and reducing clinical documentation requirements to cut provider burden. A Letter to Doctors from CMS Administrator Seema Verma Dear Doctor, Thank you for the difference you make in your patients’ lives. Many of our nation’s best and brightest students go into medicine – the competition is intense for every spot. To become a practicing physician, you had to put in years of training, hours of studying, and ... July 17, 2018 CMS, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
New Medicare Card Mailing Update – Wave 3 Begins, Wave 1 Ends New Medicare Card Mailing Update – Wave 3 Begins, Wave 1 Ends We started mailing new Medicare cards to people with Medicare who live in Wave 3 states: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin. We continue to mail new cards to people who live in Wave 2 states and territories (Alaska, American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon), as well as nationwide to people who are new to Medicare. We finished mailing most cards to people with Medicare who live in Wave ... June 26, 2018 Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
Villaraigosa is right, single-payer healthcare in California is a political pipe dream Antonio Villaraigosa thinks he has a solid weapon to hammer Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom with as they run for governor. And he probably does. It's Newsom's strong support for creating a state-run, single-payer health insurance program. Read More... March 13, 2018 General, Medicare, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMS Clears Up Confusion Over Texting Policy Following confusing and contradicting guidance, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has clarified its stance on the use of text messaging patient information between providers. Read More... January 16, 2018 CMS, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
