Policy: Feds End Year With COVID-19 Relief Bonanza

Why This Topic Matters

The article highlights temporary Medicare payment changes and other relief measures that affected 2021 reimbursement and provider support. Readers who manage Medicare revenue, compliance, or strategic planning need to understand the scope of the legislation and the categories of provisions it touched.

Article Sections

1. Background on the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule change

   Provides context on the earlier MPFS final rule and the payment environment that the relief legislation was intended to affect.

2. Now: Relief legislation and Medicare provider support

   Summarizes the enacted federal law and its broad role in COVID-19 relief for Medicare providers, including payment-related provisions.

3. Know These 5 Top Provider Relief Provisions

   Introduces the main categories of Medicare provider relief and reimbursement issues addressed by the legislation.

4. HCPCS G2211 moratorium

   Covers the article’s discussion of the temporary restriction tied to a specific HCPCS item and its timing.

5. Sequestration payment-adjustment change

   Describes the legislative extension affecting the Medicare sequestration payment adjustment and related CMS confirmation.

6. APM threshold changes on hold

   Explains the discussion of frozen participation thresholds for certain alternative payment model incentive pathways.

7. PRF boost

   Reviews the additional Provider Relief Fund appropriation and related guidance updates described in the article.

8. Rural health

   Summarizes the rural health relief topics discussed, including designation, workforce, and telehealth-related measures.

9. Outlook for additional relief legislation

   Discusses the possibility of further COVID-19 relief measures and the political factors that may shape future legislation.