The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed several coding changes in its Medicare Physician Fee Schedule that are crucial for anesthesia leaders, as highlighted in a blog post by Rita Astani, the president of anesthesia for Coronis Health. Key changes include:
- The introduction of an add-on payment for the healthcare common procedure coding system code G2211, which will be applicable for outpatient office visits to address the costs physicians might face when treating chronic conditions.
- A proposed delay in the “substantive portion” of its split visit billing, where services are partly provided by physicians and partly by other practitioners. The current definition is suggested to be maintained.
- Temporary inclusion of health and well-being coaches to the Medicare Telehealth Services List, permanent addition of social determinants of health risk assessment, and the implementation of several telehealth provisions from the Consolidated Appropriations Act.
- Allowing opioid treatment programs to bill Medicare for audio-only telecommunications when beneficiaries don’t have access to video.