Part B Payment: New Codes Without Pay Attached, 0.5 Percent Pay Increase Come January

Why This Topic Matters

The proposal could affect how Part B services are billed and paid, which services are separately payable, and how certain specialties may be reimbursed under Medicare in 2016. It is relevant to practices that bill incident-to services, provide advance care planning, or perform endoscopic lower GI procedures.

Article Sections

1. CMS 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposal

   Introduces the proposed rule and the overall Medicare Part B payment context for 2016. Covers the rulemaking timeline and the general scope of the changes discussed in the article.

2. Proposed changes to incident-to rules

   Describes proposed updates affecting incident-to billing under Medicare Part B. Explains the types of provider, supervision, and compliance issues addressed in the proposal.

3. Advance care planning payment proposal

   Summarizes the proposal involving advance care planning services and the newly introduced payment status. Discusses the policy context for these services and the comment process.

4. Potential gastroenterology payment impact

   Reviews proposed valuation changes affecting gastroenterology reimbursement and the specialty-level impact described in the article. Notes the broader context of misvalued codes and public comment activity.