CMS releases proposed 2016 physician payment rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late today issued its proposed rule for the physician fee schedule for calendar year 2016. CMS proposes a payment increase of 0.5%, as required by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. CMS also proposes to pay for advanced care planning services, which include explanation and discussion of advance directives by a physician or other qualified health professional, and requests comment on certain provisions of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System to be implemented in 2019 under MACRA. Other provisions in the proposed rule include a proposal to expand required reporting of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey to group practices of 25 or more eligible professionals; the use of star ratings on Physician Compare; and the proposed application of the value-based payment modifier to groups consisting of only non-physician EPs, such as physician assistants. The proposed rule will be published in the July 15 Federal Register, and comments are due Sept. 8. AHA members will receive a Special Bulletin with further details tomorrow.