Changes in the way the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays for primary care will push roughly $140 million to providers next year—with provisions in a new rule bringing another $60 million for a total of $200 million above 2016 payments. There may be even more coming down the road, as CMS says several coding and payment changes could eventually lead to as much as $4 billion or more being funneled into care coordination and patient-centered care. (Historically, care management-related activities have been tied to E/M codes used by all specialties.) Urgent care operators should ensure their coding personnel are up to date on current CMS rules in order to maximize applicable reimbursements.
Medicare Reimbursements to Physicians to Jump $200 Million in 2017