Nearly 100 U.S. lawmakers sent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma a letter in mid-February, expressing concerns over a plan that would slice 8% from Medicare payments for physical and occupational therapy services.
The legislators joined an array of providers also taken aback by the threatening proposal.
The lawmakers asked for more information on how CMS reached their decision to ask for the cuts.
CMS’ 2020 Physician Fee Schedule Payment System Final Rule seeks to strengthen Evaluation and Management (E/M) Services coding and increase payments for office and outpatient E/M visits. It would become effective in January 2021.
Providers have warned that the reduction in Part B services would affect skilled nursing facilities’ billing of Part B therapy — which ultimately could hurt residents.
