CSMS signed-on to letter to Administrator Verma regarding the E & M proposal in the 2019 proposed Physician Fee Schedule/Quality Payment Program rule. To reduce documentation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) proposed to collapse coding and payment for office visits. As many of you know, the AMA rapidly convened a workgroup on E & M and plans to develop a CPT proposal by early November. The CPT editorial panel would then vote on the recommendations in February and the RUC then plans to develop revaluations by May.
The AMA has spoken a number of times to senior administration officials about the E & M proposal and the workgroup, most recently on August 14th. As the Federation knows, we are still in an open comment period for the proposed rule. Consequently, CMS officials couldn’t say anything definitive, but they did welcome the participation of CMS staff in the CPT/RUC workgroup and appear open to considering alternative solutions.
