CMS refines electronic E/M, seeks medical record burden reduction — and much more

Why This Topic Matters

The proposals discussed could affect how services are billed, documented, reported, and covered across multiple specialties. Understanding the scope of the changes helps organizations assess operational impact and prepare comments, workflow updates, and compliance review.

Article Sections

1. Remote codes advance

   Covers CMS proposals related to remote service reimbursement and changes to existing and new remote-care billing categories.

2. CMS floats additional burden reduction for medical record documentation

   Discusses proposed documentation flexibility for clinicians and teaching physicians across Medicare-covered services.

3. Proposed Shared Savings and MIPS scoring harmonization

   Explains the proposal to align quality scoring approaches across Shared Savings and MIPS programs, including related reporting considerations.

4. Slim pickings for telehealth

   Summarizes the limited telehealth additions described in the proposed rule and the broad direction CMS is taking for future telehealth coverage.

5. Therapy assistants faced with new modifiers in 2020

   Reviews proposed therapy billing updates, including modifier reporting and therapy threshold-related policy changes.

6. Intensive cardiac rehabilitation coverage would expand to heart failure patients

   Describes the proposed expansion of intensive cardiac rehabilitation coverage to an additional patient population.

7. CMS requests input on home infusion therapy benefit notification options

   Covers CMS questions about how providers should notify patients regarding home infusion therapy benefit options and related documentation approaches.