Proposed 2015 fee schedule: CMS hints at changes to locum tenens policy but no SGR cut details until fall

Why This Topic Matters

The proposal could affect how practices staff temporary physician coverage, how claims are billed under Medicare, and how several service categories are valued and paid. It also signals upcoming changes that practices and coders may need to track before final rule publication.

Article Sections

1. Locum tenens policy under review

   CMS discusses possible changes to temporary physician coverage arrangements and raises questions about how such services are billed and documented.

2. Payments set until April

   This section summarizes the timing of Medicare payment updates and the status of the conversion factor in the proposed 2015 fee schedule.

3. Additional changes proposed in the rule

   The article outlines several other proposed Medicare payment policy updates affecting valuation, coding, and service inputs across selected physician services.