Medicare Payment Rules Likely to Be Delayed

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said Oct. 23 that four 2014 Medicare rules, including the physician payment rule, will be delayed, possibly until Nov. 27. In a memorandum to providers, Robert Fritter, director of CMS’s Division of Provider Relations and Outreach, said that although the agency still is assessing the impact of the partial government shutdown on regulatory work, the final rules will be issued by Nov. 27, “generally to be effective on Jan. 1, 2014.” The four rules that were due out around Nov. 1 are: Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2014 Final Rule with Comment Period (CMS-1600-FC); CY 2014 Home Health Prospective Payment System Final Rule (CMS-1450-F); CY 2014 Changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System (CMS-1601-FC); and Medicare Program; End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, Quality Incentive Program, and Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (CMS-1526-F). The prospect of the late publication of the physician rule concerned at least one group.The Medical Group Management Association “will urge CMS to do everything in its power to release the physician payment rule earlier than the 27th,” […]