The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS) released an article in mid-December highlighting changes to payment policies to take effect in the calendar year 2017 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). To review changes affecting radiology and telehealth click here to access the ACR article entitled "CMS Summarizes 2017 MPFS Policy Changes".

CMS provides several different options for eligible clinicians to the weight the Advancing Care Information (ACI) performance category in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) to zero, effectively exempting the participant from reporting ACI. To read a summary of these options click here to access the ACR article entitled “ACR Clarifies ACI Options in MIPS”.

At its January 13th meeting, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) considered options for raising Medicare payments for primary care physicians while reducing reimbursement for specialty physicians. MedPAC commissioners were largely unsupportive of the proposed options and instead most favored a complete overhaul of the Medicare Physicians Fee Schedule. MedPAC however does recognize the possibility of a future shortage of primary care physicians and therefore has determined to continue exploring potential solutions in future meetings. To gain more insight on this topic click here to access the ACR article entitled "MedPAC Targets Specialty Reimbursement".

As this E-brief goes out, we will have recently conducted our annual winter board meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all board members, FRS members, physicians in training and staff who not only participate in board meetings but also donate time and resources throughout the year working tirelessly volunteering for various committees and serving as officers to develop and implement FRS initiatives that help fulfill our society mission. Your support is instrumental in making the Florida Radiologic Society one of the strongest and most well-respected state chapters in the ACR.