CMS Announces Policy, Payment Rate Changes For the Physician Fee Schedule

CMS issued a final rule with comment period that updates payment policies and rates for physicians and nonphysician practitioners for services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in calendar year 2012. More than 1 million providers of vital health services to Medicare beneficiaries – including physicians, limited license practitioners such as podiatrists, and NPPs such as nurse practitioners and physical therapists – are paid under the MPFS. CMS projects that total payments under the MPFS in CY 2012 will be approximately $80 billion.