ACR praises cognitive care, telehealth changes to 2021 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule
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The American College of Rheumatology on August 4 lauded CMS for a proposed rule in its 2021 Physician Fee Schedule that would place an increased value on cognitive care and expand telehealth access.
“The ACR commends CMS for recognizing the historic undervaluing of the services provided by rheumatologists and other cognitive care providers, and for taking steps in this proposed rule to more appropriately reimburse the complex care they provide to Medicare patients,” ACR President Ellen Gravallese, MD, said in a release. “This is good news for the 54 million Americans who live with rheumatic disease — many of whom are current Medicare beneficiaries or will enter the Medicare system one day — and will help to ensure they continue to receive the healthcare services they need and deserve.”
According to the ACR, evaluation and management — or E/M — services provided by rheumatologists and other specialists who provide cognitive care have “historically been undervalued by Medicare.” Citing a 2018 report from the Medicare Payment and Advisory Commission (MedPAC), ACR also noted that health care services billed under E/M codes, including examinations, disease diagnosis, risk assessments and care coordination, are “grossly under-compensated.”
This, according to the release, creates significant barriers to patient access, as well as workforce shortages.
According to the ACR statement, CMS’ proposed rule, if implemented, would “address these historic issues and increase patient access by improving office visit payments and expanding telehealth services.”
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