Source: American Academy of Family Physicians
On July 12, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2019 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B proposed rule. The 2019 proposed rule also includes several changes to the Physician Fee Schedule and the MACRA Quality Payment Programs (QPP).
Currently, the American Academy of Family Physicians’ team is analyzing the proposed rule and is still in the listening, engagement, and influence stage relative to formulation of a formal response. This is a lengthy proposed rule that includes a number of substantive policy changes, thus it is taking the AAFP more time to analyze than in previous years. Early analysis and modeling suggests that the economic outcome of the proposed changes, in totality, are not positive for family physicians.
The AAFP will submit comprehensive feedback to CMS on or before the comment period deadline of Monday, September 10. The AAFP will provide chapters with a framework/outline of the AAFP comment letter by early September so that the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians and other chapters of the AAFP will have time to prepare comments prior to the Monday, September 10, deadline.
In addition to AAFP’s internal analysis, the AAFP has engaged in a series of conversations with CMS and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the policies included in the proposed rule – specifically the proposed changes to E&M and documentation guidelines. Those conversations have two purposes. The first is to understand the thinking and methodologies behind the proposals. The second is to provide feedback (positive and negative) and suggestions for how the policy could be better designed to support family medicine. In addition to AAFP’s engagement with the federal government, the AAFP is engaged in conversations with the American Medical Association, other physician organizations, and several think tanks and thought leaders on the proposed changes. These meetings are an opportunity to raise a number of pointed questions about the negative impact some of the proposed changes will have on family physicians.
The AAFP Top-Line Summary is a good source for general, high-level information about the major policies proposed in the rule. AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement, and Policy Shawn Martin shared his initial views in a July 30 In the Trenches posting. In addition, the AAFP has posted archived versions of the August 2 CMS webinar and slides held for chapter presidents and executives. Another webinar is planned for early September.