ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2020 Issue 24
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: CMS Solidifies Some Telehealth Changes
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Article Overview
This piece reviews major elements of CMS’s CY 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, with emphasis on office/outpatient evaluation and management updates, telehealth policy changes, and related payment and documentation adjustments. It is useful for physicians, coders, billing teams, compliance staff, and revenue cycle professionals tracking Medicare policy changes that affect professional services and virtual care. The article also notes broader CMS implementation and future-policy themes tied to the public health emergency and the Medicare telehealth services list.
Why This Topic Matters
The final rule affects how Medicare professionals document and report common office/outpatient services, how telehealth availability is structured, and how payment policy shifts may influence reimbursement. Understanding these changes helps healthcare organizations prepare for operational, compliance, and financial impacts.
Article Sections
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Context
Introduces the CY 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule and sets up the policy areas covered in the article.
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Take a Look at Finalized E/M Changes
Summarizes updates to office/outpatient evaluation and management policy, including documentation and payment-related themes.
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Telehealth Remains Front and Center in 2021 Policies
Reviews Medicare telehealth policy changes, including new services, temporary-to-permanent policy concepts, supervision-related updates, and other telehealth-related developments.
What You Will Learn
- What CMS addressed in the CY 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule
- Which broad policy areas changed for office/outpatient evaluation and management services
- How the final rule affects telehealth policy and Medicare telehealth service expansion
- What categories of Medicare payment and documentation updates were highlighted
- Which types of organizations and professionals should monitor these rule changes
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Compliance professionals
- Revenue cycle teams
- Practice administrators
- Telehealth program staff
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