ASCRS Joins Coalition of Physician and Allied Health Professional Organizations, Including the AMA, in Letter Supporting H.R. 8702, the “Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020;” Alliance of Specialty Medicine Also Issues Support
On November 11, the AMA joined ASCRS and a coalition of organizations representing physicians and allied health professionals in a letter expressing support for H.R. 8702, the “Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020,” introduced by Reps. Ami Bera, MD (D-CA), and Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN). ASCRS also joined the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in a letter supporting the legislation.
As you are aware, the legislation was drafted in response to the anticipated impact of the 2021 Medicare physician payment schedule final rule, scheduled to be released about Dec. 1, that will cause a significant redistribution in payments beginning in January with significant cuts to specialists and surgeons.
H.R. 8702 would effectively freeze payments at 2020 rates for services scheduled to be cut in 2021 for a period of two years, while allowing the planned E/M payment increases to take place as scheduled. The legislation is broadly supported by physician organizations.
Final legislation will be crafted by the committees of jurisdiction; they are watching developments on the Bera-Bucshon legislation closely as a potential solution that does not involve an actual waiver of budget neutrality. That is why we are urging ASCRS and ASOA members to use the ASCRS Grassroots Network to contact your representative and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 8702.
See next article for details.
Use the ASCRS Grassroots Action Center and Urge Your Representatives to Co-Sponsor H.R. 8702, the “Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020,” Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Medicare Physician Payment Cuts from Going into Effect on January 1, 2021
We need your help now in urging members of the House of Representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 8702, the “Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020.” This bipartisan legislation introduced by Ami Bera, MD, and Larry Bucshon, MD, would prevent the pending Medicare physician payment cuts from going into effect for two years. Specifically, the legislation gives an additional “hold harmless relief” payment to those codes where the 2021 total payment is less than the 2020 total payment so that all codes facing a reduction are held harmless – and are paid at the 2020 payment levels.
Please go to the ASCRS Grassroots Action Center and send a letter to your representative asking them to co-sponsor H.R. 8702. We are working to get the same 229 representatives who signed onto the Bera/Bucshon letter urging Congress to address this issue to co-sponsor this legislation. Background information, along with a copy of the legislation and a letter for you to send are all provided in the Grassroots Action Center. In addition, we have created a Myths and Facts document regarding the legislation, since primary care opponents are mischaracterizing the bill and its impact.
If you have any questions, please contact Nancey McCann, ASCRS Director of Government Relations at [email protected].
ASCRS Joins the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in Urging Congress to Extend Medicare Sequestration Relief
On November 9, ASCRS, in conjunction with the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, sent a letter to the House and Senate leadership urging the extension of the Medicare sequestration relief that was provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The provision provided a temporary suspension of Medicare sequestration from May 1, 2020 through the end of the calendar year.
Senator Rand Paul, MD (R-KY) Pays Tribute to Alan Crandall, MD, and His Life of Service
Senator Paul honored Dr. Alan Crandall by remembering and recognizing him in the October 22nd Congressional Record. Senator Paul joined Dr. Crandall in two cataract missions to Guatemala and Haiti through the Moran Eye Center Global Outreach Program, that was partially funded by the ASCRS Foundation.
Deadline Extended to Nov. 20: Complete Survey on CPT 68XXX
If you have received an email to fill out a survey related to lacrimal canaliculus drug eluting implant insertion, the Academy and ASCRS have extended the deadline to Nov. 20. Check for an email from [email protected].
ASCRS Joins the Medical Community in Urging Payment for Additional Supplies, Materials, and Clinical Staff Time Due to the Pandemic
Last month, the CPT Editorial Panel approved CPT code 99072 to be used to report the additional supplies, materials, and clinical staff time over and above the practice expense(s) included in an office visit or other non-facility service(s) when performed during a public health emergency (PHE), as defined by law, due to respiratory-transmitted infectious disease. To help address the significant fiscal pressures placed on physicians by the COVID-19 pandemic, ASCRS joined the medical community in urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), and major commercial health plans (i.e., Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, Health Care Service Corporation, Humana and UnitedHealthcare) to immediately implement and pay for CPT code 99072.
New Resources Available on the QPP Resource Library
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted several new Quality Payment Program (QPP) resources to the QPP Resource Library:
2020 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) User Guides: These guides provide details on a variety of topics to help clinicians understand the MIPS 2020 performance period requirements. The guides cover the following:
- MIPS 101
- Participation and Eligibility
- Group Participation
- Scoring
- Quality Performance Category
- Promoting Interoperability Performance Category
- Improvement Activities Performance Category
- Cost Performance Category
2020 MIPS Measure Specialty Guides: These guides provide a detailed sample of measures and activities for the 2020 MIPS performance categories relevant to various eligible specialists. Each guide explains how measures and activities are applicable to the individual specialty, includes the weight of each performance category for the MIPS Final Score, and provides information about submitting data.
All guides posted in 2019 have been updated for the 2020 performance period.
The guides can be found in the QPP Resource Library by using the drop down menu “Resource Type” and sorting by “Specialty Guides.”
2020 CMS Web Interface Quick Start Guide: This guide shares information to help stakeholders understand and report their data via the CMS Web Interface.
2020 Quality Measures List with Telehealth Guidance: This resource provides a list of quality measures that currently include telehealth for the 2020 performance period.
2020 CAHPS for MIPS Approved Survey Vendors: This resource contains the list and contact information of survey vendors who are approved to administer the CAHPS for MIPS Survey for 2020.
For More Information
Contact the Quality Payment Program at 1-866-288-8292 or by e-mail at: [email protected]. To receive assistance more quickly, consider calling during non-peak hours—before 10 a.m. and after 2 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
- Customers who are hearing impaired can dial 711 to be connected to a TRS Communications Assistant.
