On October 31, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule, Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2015 final rule. The final rule addresses adjustments to the physician fee schedule and other Medicare Part B payment policies to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services. The finalized changes will go into effect on January 1, 2015. The Academy is working to prepare a list of payment rates by CPT code for audiology procedures covered under the fee schedule. The rule also addresses key issues from the proposed rule, including changes to the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Physician Compare website redesign, as well as information on non-physician provider participation in the Value-Based Modifier (VM) program. CMS has also released a Fee Schedule Fact Sheet and a PQRS Quality Fact Sheet.

Click here for the Academy’s preliminary analysis of the CMS finalized Medicare Part B policy changes.