Evaluation & Management (E&M) proposal feedback |
Introduction
Overview:
CMS released the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule that would affect Medicare physician reimbursement policies beginning in 2019. Among other things, CMS proposes to:
- Collapse E&M Levels 2-5 into one single level for new patients and another for established patients. The average national payment would be $135 for new patients and $93 for established patients.
- Allow clinicians to choose to document office and outpatient E&M visits using medical decision-making or time or continue using the current 1995 or 1997 E&M documentation guidelines.
- Create a minimum documentation standard so clinicians would only need to meet requirements currently associated with a level 2 visit for history, exam, and medical-decision making (except when using time to document the service).
To help MGMA’s advocacy on behalf of medical group practices, we are interested in your feedback about these proposals.