The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is set to issue a final rule updating certain reimbursement policies under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The updates include establishing separate payment rates for two advance care planning services provided to Medicare beneficiaries by physicians and other practitioners.
The Advance Care Planning payment rates are designed to compensate practitioners for assisting Medicare beneficiaries in making important decisions that provide them with more control over the type of care they receive and when they receive it.
For Medicare beneficiaries who choose to pursue it, advance care planning is a service that includes early conversations between patients and their practitioners, both before an illness progresses and during the course of treatment, to decide on the type of care that is right for them.
The final rule is set to be released by CMS on November 16th. An advance copy of the final rule can be found here. The rule also finalizes a proposal that will better enable seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries to make important decisions that give them control over the type of care they receive and when they receive it.
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