CMS Heeds AAO-HNS Concerns on CY 2019 MPFS
July 7, 2021On November 1, 2018, CMS released a final rule implementing changes to the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. In response to AAO-HNS advocacy and coordinated efforts across the house of medicine, CMS opted to rescind its proposal to apply an MPPR/Modifier 25 reduction…
AAO-HNS Comments on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
July 7, 2021On August 30, the AAO-HNS submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the CY 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program proposed rule. The Academy’s comments focused on the agency’s proposed changes to E…
AAO-HNS Comments on Medicare CY 2020 Hospital Outpatient Proposed Rule
July 7, 2021On September 27, the AAO-HNS submitted a comment letter to CMS regarding the CY 2020 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System proposed rule. The Academy’s comments included support for Medicare’s proposed changes to increase…
AAO-HNS Comments on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
July 7, 2021On December 30, the AAO-HNS submitted comments to CMS regarding the CY 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. In the November 15 federal register notice rule publication, the agency indicated its willingness to solely consider comments on the sections of the rule describing…
Medicare to Require Prior Authorization for Certain Outpatient Department Services Starting July 1, 2020
July 7, 2021In the Calendar Year 2020 Outpatient Prospective Payment System/Ambulatory Surgical Center Final Rule (2020 OPPS Final Rule), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established a prior authorization process and requirements for certain hospital outpatient department (OPD) services in order to help control…
AAO-HNS Preliminary Summary of CY 2021 MPFS Final Rule
July 7, 2021On December 1 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2021 Final Rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP). Key provisions affecting otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons include revisions to payment and documentation for evaluation and…
CMS Releases Calendar Year 2021 HOPPS Final Rule
July 7, 2021On December 2 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year 2021 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) final rule. Key provisions affecting otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons include: facility payment for the new eustachian tube balloon dilation (ETBD) codes, prior…
AAO-HNS Comments on CY 2021 HOPPS Final Rule
July 7, 2021On January 4 the AAO-HNS submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services on the Calendar Year 2021 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center (HOPPS) final rule. In response to AAO-HNS advocacy and stakeholder comments received…
CMS Releases Revised 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Conversion Factor
July 7, 2021On January 7 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced modifications to the calendar year 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) based on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, signed into law on December 27. Cumulative changes included in the Act result in an…
AAO-HNS Releases Summary of Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute Final Rules
July 7, 2021The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued two new regulations, which took effect on January 19, that have implications for otolaryngologists and their patients. The final rules include one issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addressing changes to the Stark law…
