2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Opinion

Introduction

CMS has released the 2019 Medicare physician fee schedule and we want to know what you think. After you read our breaking news blog post on the final rule, please take a moment to share your reaction to some of the key changes in the final rule. All responses are confidential.

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* 1. CMS won't flatten payments for level 2-4 office/outpatient visits until 2021.

Very unhappy

Unhappy

Neutral

Happy

Very happy

Very unhappy

Unhappy

Neutral

Happy

Very happy

Please share any additional thoughts on the final rule for E/M office/outpatient visit payments. For example, how it will affect your practice.

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* 2. CMS won't cut payments for encounters that include an E/M visit and a procedure for the same patient on the same day.

Very unhappy

Unappy

Neutral

Happy

Very happy

Very unhappy

Unappy

Neutral

Happy

Very happy

Please share any additional thoughts on the final rule for payment of same day E/M visits and procedures. For example, how it will affect your practice.

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* 3. E/M visits

	Very happy	Happy	Neutral	Unhappy	Very unhappy	N/A
CMS won't pay an additional fee for primary care services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit.	CMS won't pay an additional fee for primary care services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. Very happy	CMS won't pay an additional fee for primary care services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. Happy	CMS won't pay an additional fee for primary care services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. Neutral	CMS won't pay an additional fee for primary care services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. Unhappy	CMS won't pay an additional fee for primary care services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. Very unhappy	CMS won't pay an additional fee for primary care services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. N/A
CMS won't pay an additional fee for specialty services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit.	CMS won't pay an additional fee for specialty services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. Very happy	CMS won't pay an additional fee for specialty services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. Happy	CMS won't pay an additional fee for specialty services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. Neutral	CMS won't pay an additional fee for specialty services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. Unhappy	CMS won't pay an additional fee for specialty services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. Very unhappy	CMS won't pay an additional fee for specialty services when a provider reports an add-on G code with an E/M visit. N/A
CMS won't allow practices to use medical decision-making as the sole element for coding E/M visits.	CMS won't allow practices to use medical decision-making as the sole element for coding E/M visits. Very happy	CMS won't allow practices to use medical decision-making as the sole element for coding E/M visits. Happy	CMS won't allow practices to use medical decision-making as the sole element for coding E/M visits. Neutral	CMS won't allow practices to use medical decision-making as the sole element for coding E/M visits. Unhappy	CMS won't allow practices to use medical decision-making as the sole element for coding E/M visits. Very unhappy	CMS won't allow practices to use medical decision-making as the sole element for coding E/M visits. N/A
CMS won't allow providers to use time as the sole element for coding E/M visits.	CMS won't allow providers to use time as the sole element for coding E/M visits. Very happy	CMS won't allow providers to use time as the sole element for coding E/M visits. Happy	CMS won't allow providers to use time as the sole element for coding E/M visits. Neutral	CMS won't allow providers to use time as the sole element for coding E/M visits. Unhappy	CMS won't allow providers to use time as the sole element for coding E/M visits. Very unhappy	CMS won't allow providers to use time as the sole element for coding E/M visits. N/A

Please share any additional thoughts about the final rule for E/M visits. For example, how it will affect your practice.

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* 4. Remote consults and encounters

	Very happy	Happy	Neutral	Unhappy	Very unhappy	N/A
CMS will pay for interprofessional consults performed by phone, internet or electronic health record	CMS will pay for interprofessional consults performed by phone, internet or electronic health record Very happy	CMS will pay for interprofessional consults performed by phone, internet or electronic health record Happy	CMS will pay for interprofessional consults performed by phone, internet or electronic health record Neutral	CMS will pay for interprofessional consults performed by phone, internet or electronic health record Unhappy	CMS will pay for interprofessional consults performed by phone, internet or electronic health record Very unhappy	CMS will pay for interprofessional consults performed by phone, internet or electronic health record N/A
CMS will pay for interprofessional referrals performed by phone, internet or electronic health record	CMS will pay for interprofessional referrals performed by phone, internet or electronic health record Very happy	CMS will pay for interprofessional referrals performed by phone, internet or electronic health record Happy	CMS will pay for interprofessional referrals performed by phone, internet or electronic health record Neutral	CMS will pay for interprofessional referrals performed by phone, internet or electronic health record Unhappy	CMS will pay for interprofessional referrals performed by phone, internet or electronic health record Very unhappy	CMS will pay for interprofessional referrals performed by phone, internet or electronic health record N/A
CMS will pay clinicians to evaluate and follow up on pictures/video sent by patients.	CMS will pay clinicians to evaluate and follow up on pictures/video sent by patients. Very happy	CMS will pay clinicians to evaluate and follow up on pictures/video sent by patients. Happy	CMS will pay clinicians to evaluate and follow up on pictures/video sent by patients. Neutral	CMS will pay clinicians to evaluate and follow up on pictures/video sent by patients. Unhappy	CMS will pay clinicians to evaluate and follow up on pictures/video sent by patients. Very unhappy	CMS will pay clinicians to evaluate and follow up on pictures/video sent by patients. N/A
CMS will pay clinicians for virtual check-ins with established patients.	CMS will pay clinicians for virtual check-ins with established patients. Very happy	CMS will pay clinicians for virtual check-ins with established patients. Happy	CMS will pay clinicians for virtual check-ins with established patients. Neutral	CMS will pay clinicians for virtual check-ins with established patients. Unhappy	CMS will pay clinicians for virtual check-ins with established patients. Very unhappy	CMS will pay clinicians for virtual check-ins with established patients. N/A

Please share any additional thoughts on the final rule for remote consults/encounters. For example, how it will affect your practice.

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* 5. Other new services

	Very happy	Happy	Neutral	Unhappy	Very unhappy	N/A
CMS won't create a shorter prolonged service add-on code in 2019	CMS won't create a shorter prolonged service add-on code in 2019 Very happy	CMS won't create a shorter prolonged service add-on code in 2019 Happy	CMS won't create a shorter prolonged service add-on code in 2019 Neutral	CMS won't create a shorter prolonged service add-on code in 2019 Unhappy	CMS won't create a shorter prolonged service add-on code in 2019 Very unhappy	CMS won't create a shorter prolonged service add-on code in 2019 N/A
CMS will create and cover a shorter alcohol/substance abuse assessment service.	CMS will create and cover a shorter alcohol/substance abuse assessment service. Very happy	CMS will create and cover a shorter alcohol/substance abuse assessment service. Happy	CMS will create and cover a shorter alcohol/substance abuse assessment service. Neutral	CMS will create and cover a shorter alcohol/substance abuse assessment service. Unhappy	CMS will create and cover a shorter alcohol/substance abuse assessment service. Very unhappy	CMS will create and cover a shorter alcohol/substance abuse assessment service. N/A
CMS will remove the service-specific documentation requirements for alcohol/substance abuse codes G0397 and G0398	CMS will remove the service-specific documentation requirements for alcohol/substance abuse codes G0397 and G0398 Very happy	CMS will remove the service-specific documentation requirements for alcohol/substance abuse codes G0397 and G0398 Happy	CMS will remove the service-specific documentation requirements for alcohol/substance abuse codes G0397 and G0398 Neutral	CMS will remove the service-specific documentation requirements for alcohol/substance abuse codes G0397 and G0398 Unhappy	CMS will remove the service-specific documentation requirements for alcohol/substance abuse codes G0397 and G0398 Very unhappy	CMS will remove the service-specific documentation requirements for alcohol/substance abuse codes G0397 and G0398 N/A

Please share any additional thoughts on the final rule for other new services. For example, how it will affect your practice.

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* 6. Merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS)

	Very happy	Happy	Neutral	Unhappy	Very unhappy	N/A
CMS will set MIPS scoring as follows: Quality - 45%, cost - 15%, improvement activities - 15% and promoting interoperability - 25%	CMS will set MIPS scoring as follows: Quality - 45%, cost - 15%, improvement activities - 15% and promoting interoperability - 25% Very happy	CMS will set MIPS scoring as follows: Quality - 45%, cost - 15%, improvement activities - 15% and promoting interoperability - 25% Happy	CMS will set MIPS scoring as follows: Quality - 45%, cost - 15%, improvement activities - 15% and promoting interoperability - 25% Neutral	CMS will set MIPS scoring as follows: Quality - 45%, cost - 15%, improvement activities - 15% and promoting interoperability - 25% Unhappy	CMS will set MIPS scoring as follows: Quality - 45%, cost - 15%, improvement activities - 15% and promoting interoperability - 25% Very unhappy	CMS will set MIPS scoring as follows: Quality - 45%, cost - 15%, improvement activities - 15% and promoting interoperability - 25% N/A
CMS won't change MIPS performance periods: Quality - full year, cost - full year, improvement activities - 90 days and promoting interoperability - 90 days.	CMS won't change MIPS performance periods: Quality - full year, cost - full year, improvement activities - 90 days and promoting interoperability - 90 days. Very happy	CMS won't change MIPS performance periods: Quality - full year, cost - full year, improvement activities - 90 days and promoting interoperability - 90 days. Happy	CMS won't change MIPS performance periods: Quality - full year, cost - full year, improvement activities - 90 days and promoting interoperability - 90 days. Neutral	CMS won't change MIPS performance periods: Quality - full year, cost - full year, improvement activities - 90 days and promoting interoperability - 90 days. Unhappy	CMS won't change MIPS performance periods: Quality - full year, cost - full year, improvement activities - 90 days and promoting interoperability - 90 days. Very unhappy	CMS won't change MIPS performance periods: Quality - full year, cost - full year, improvement activities - 90 days and promoting interoperability - 90 days. N/A
CMS won't allow practices with 16 or more eligible clinicians to report quality measures via claims-based reporting.	CMS won't allow practices with 16 or more eligible clinicians to report quality measures via claims-based reporting. Very happy	CMS won't allow practices with 16 or more eligible clinicians to report quality measures via claims-based reporting. Happy	CMS won't allow practices with 16 or more eligible clinicians to report quality measures via claims-based reporting. Neutral	CMS won't allow practices with 16 or more eligible clinicians to report quality measures via claims-based reporting. Unhappy	CMS won't allow practices with 16 or more eligible clinicians to report quality measures via claims-based reporting. Very unhappy	CMS won't allow practices with 16 or more eligible clinicians to report quality measures via claims-based reporting. N/A
CMS will add physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, audiologists, clinical psychologists and registered dieticians or nutrition professionals to the MIPS-eligible clinician category.	CMS will add physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, audiologists, clinical psychologists and registered dieticians or nutrition professionals to the MIPS-eligible clinician category. Very happy	CMS will add physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, audiologists, clinical psychologists and registered dieticians or nutrition professionals to the MIPS-eligible clinician category. Happy	CMS will add physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, audiologists, clinical psychologists and registered dieticians or nutrition professionals to the MIPS-eligible clinician category. Neutral	CMS will add physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, audiologists, clinical psychologists and registered dieticians or nutrition professionals to the MIPS-eligible clinician category. Unhappy	CMS will add physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, audiologists, clinical psychologists and registered dieticians or nutrition professionals to the MIPS-eligible clinician category. Very unhappy	CMS will add physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, audiologists, clinical psychologists and registered dieticians or nutrition professionals to the MIPS-eligible clinician category. N/A
CMS won't add nurse midwives and clinical social workers to the MIPS eligible clinician category.	CMS won't add nurse midwives and clinical social workers to the MIPS eligible clinician category. Very happy	CMS won't add nurse midwives and clinical social workers to the MIPS eligible clinician category. Happy	CMS won't add nurse midwives and clinical social workers to the MIPS eligible clinician category. Neutral	CMS won't add nurse midwives and clinical social workers to the MIPS eligible clinician category. Unhappy	CMS won't add nurse midwives and clinical social workers to the MIPS eligible clinician category. Very unhappy	CMS won't add nurse midwives and clinical social workers to the MIPS eligible clinician category. N/A

Please share any additional thoughts on the final QPP/MIPS final. For example, how it will affect your practice.

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* 7. Please share any additional thoughts or questions you have about the final rule, including any changes that are not covered by this survey.

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* 8. May we talk to you about your replies? If so, please provide your contact information.

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