Just as happens every summer, CMS has released its proposed rule
with updates and changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule that
will take effect on January 1, 2014. Not unexpectedly, the Agency is
projecting that the sustainable growth rate (SGR) impact would be a 24.4
percent cut in 2014. Do not bank on this number though. It is going
to change before the end of the year.
Of greater significance, CMS
has proposed modifications to quality reporting under both the
Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and electronic health record
(EHR) incentive programs.
The basic PQRS principle for
2014 remains the same: eligible professionals (EPs), including
anesthesiologists, pain physicians and nurse anesthetists who
satisfactorily report data on PQRS quality measures are eligible to
receive an incentive bonus equal to 0.5 percent of the total estimated
Medicare Part B allowed charges for all covered professional services
furnished by the eligible professional or group practice...
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