CMS Proposes "Historic Changes" to U.S. Healthcare System

​The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 12, 2018, proposed "historic changes" in order to modernize the U.S. healthcare system, reduce administrative burden, and restore the doctor-patient relationship. The proposals, which are part of the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP), would also modernize Medicare payment policies in order to promote access to virtual care, CMS said. This would include paying clinicians for virtual check-ins and for evaluation of patient-submitted material, such as photos and video recordings. This would also mean expanding Medicare-covered telehealth, CMS said. Included among the proposals are a streamlining of the documentation requirements for PFS, as well as a streamlining of documentation required for Evaluation and Management office visits.