Reimbursement

[nvrsumr]

Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule Reveals Results of EMG/NCS Refinement Panel
As many of you know, last November, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its CY2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, which included severe cuts to some of the most common physiatric procedures, Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and Electromyographic Studies (EMGs). Since that time, The Academy has worked with other stakeholders (AAN, AANEM, APTA) to fight these cuts by soliciting support in Congress, meeting with then CMS Director of Medicare, Jonathan Blum, and requesting and participating in a CMS refinement panel.

The refinement panel, which took place in August, 2013, was a chance for physicians to present arguments against the revaluations of the codes that took effect on January 1, 2013. The Academy was invited to present as part of the panel as was the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). The results of the panel were announced today, November 27, 2013, as part of the CY2014 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.

The results are as follows:

• Code 95886 (EMG Extremity Add-on) will go from the 2013 final work RVU of 0.70 to 0.86 final work RVU starting on January 1, 2014
• Code 95887 (EMG Non-extremity Add-on) will go from the 2013 final work RVU of 0.47 to 0.71 final work RVU starting on January 1, 2014
• No changes will be made to NCS codes 95908 – 95913 on January 1, 2014

Although the Academy and other stakeholders were only partly successful in raising the value of the codes impacted in last year’s physician fee schedule revaluation through the refinement panel process, there still remains other avenues for advocacy in this area. The Academy is currently talking with Congressional offices about the possibility of further inquiries into CMS’s decision to devalue these codes, and about the option of legislative language to ensure fraud and abuse is addressed by going after outliers, as opposed to cutting reimbursement in a blanket fashion for all providers, including those using the tests appropriately.

As advocacy continues around this issue, the Academy will update members periodically and initiate a Voter Voice alert should any grassroots advocacy become necessary.

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[SSdoc33]

Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule Reveals Results of EMG/NCS Refinement Panel
As many of you know, last November, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its CY2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, which included severe cuts to some of the most common physiatric procedures, Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and Electromyographic Studies (EMGs). Since that time, The Academy has worked with other stakeholders (AAN, AANEM, APTA) to fight these cuts by soliciting support in Congress, meeting with then CMS Director of Medicare, Jonathan Blum, and requesting and participating in a CMS refinement panel.

The refinement panel, which took place in August, 2013, was a chance for physicians to present arguments against the revaluations of the codes that took effect on January 1, 2013. The Academy was invited to present as part of the panel as was the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). The results of the panel were announced today, November 27, 2013, as part of the CY2014 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.

The results are as follows:

• Code 95886 (EMG Extremity Add-on) will go from the 2013 final work RVU of 0.70 to 0.86 final work RVU starting on January 1, 2014
• Code 95887 (EMG Non-extremity Add-on) will go from the 2013 final work RVU of 0.47 to 0.71 final work RVU starting on January 1, 2014
• No changes will be made to NCS codes 95908 – 95913 on January 1, 2014

Although the Academy and other stakeholders were only partly successful in raising the value of the codes impacted in last year’s physician fee schedule revaluation through the refinement panel process, there still remains other avenues for advocacy in this area. The Academy is currently talking with Congressional offices about the possibility of further inquiries into CMS’s decision to devalue these codes, and about the option of legislative language to ensure fraud and abuse is addressed by going after outliers, as opposed to cutting reimbursement in a blanket fashion for all providers, including those using the tests appropriately.

As advocacy continues around this issue, the Academy will update members periodically and initiate a Voter Voice alert should any grassroots advocacy become necessary.

complete BS. tiny bit of an RVU bump for the second extremity? CMS can go eff off. They did nothing to the NCS codes, which are our bread and butter. 14 NCS/study, here i come!!!!!!!!