Short rule slashes pay for interpreting imaging tests, tries to optimize e-Rx and quality reporting

Why This Topic Matters

The proposed rule affects payment methodology, reporting obligations, and service billing across several specialties and practice settings. Readers can use this overview to judge whether the full article is relevant to their specialty, reporting workflow, or reimbursement planning.

Article Sections

1. Multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) for test interpretations

   Discusses proposed expansion of an existing Medicare payment policy to additional professional imaging interpretations and the broader scope of future payment policy changes.

2. Annual wellness visits (AWVs)

   Summarizes proposed updates to the structure and required elements of annual wellness visits and related definitions.

3. e-Rx reporting streamlined

   Covers proposed changes to electronic prescribing reporting periods, thresholds, and bonus/penalty timing for individual participants.

4. e-Rx requirements for group practices

   Describes how the proposal would treat group practices under electronic prescribing incentive and reporting requirements.

5. More choices for submitting your e-Rx data

   Outlines reporting options and timing requirements for submitting electronic prescribing data through different mechanisms.

6. New e-Rx exemptions for 2012 and 2013

   Reviews proposed exemption categories related to access, legal constraints, and prescription volume.

7. PQRS-Medicare EHR Incentive Pilot

   Explains proposed reporting expectations for physicians participating in the EHR-related quality reporting pilot.

8. Additions to PQRS-EHR pilot program

   Summarizes proposed expansion of measures and vendor-related updates for the pilot program.

9. New PQRS reporting measures and criteria

   Covers additions to quality reporting measures, reporting categories, and specialty-based criteria under PQRS.

10. Codes for group services

    Discusses proposed changes affecting time allocation for selected group service billing codes across several service types.

11. RVU changes for codes with site-of-service anomalies

    Addresses proposed relative value unit revisions for procedures that have shifted between inpatient and outpatient settings.

12. Higher malpractice RVUs for cardiothoracic surgery codes

    Summarizes proposed malpractice RVU increases for a set of cardiothoracic surgery procedures.

13. Telehealth smoking cessation added

    Covers proposed telehealth coverage expansion for smoking cessation services and the services that were not included.

14. More Maintenance of Certification Incentive requirements

    Describes proposed changes to the participation standards needed to earn the Maintenance of Certification incentive bonus.

15. Billing changes for hospital-run practices

    Explains proposed billing treatment for physician practices owned or operated by hospitals and related use of a new modifier.