On Wednesday, CMS issued a draft Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2010, which includes several revised health IT provisions, Health Data Management reports.
The CMS proposal would:
- Allow health care providers to submit data from electronic health record systems;
- Develop a process to facilitate quality measure reporting for group practices;
- Let physicians report new measures under the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative pay-for-performance program; and
- Simplify reporting requirements for PQRI and the Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program.
CMS opted to revise physician payments in response to projections that physicians will face a 21.5% Medicare rate reduction in 2010.
The rule also includes new regulations on consultation codes and physician-administered drugs.
CMS will accept public comment on the rule through Aug. 31 and plans to publish a final rule by Nov. 1. The new physician payment system would take effect Jan. 1, 2010 (Goedert, Health Data Management, 7/1).
The proposed rule is available online (.pdf).