CMS proposes simplifying reimbursement for office visits

Along with the changes noted in last week's blog post, CMS proposed some changes to how physicians will be compensated. Kaiser Health News offered some analysis regarding the effects of the proposed changes.

CMS touted the changes as a way that providers can save time, since there should be less complexity and less paperwork. Interestingly, CMS is proposing to pay primary care providers and specialists the same amount for a typical office visit. People in the industry have been concerned about the increasing disparity between the compensation for primary care doctors as compared to that of specialists (causing more and more providers to specialize, leading to a shortage of primary care doctors). This change might slow that trend.

Regardless, the article canvases a number of physicians and demonstrates that it can be difficult to fully appreciate the impact of policy changes like these, in part, because it is difficult to predict how providers might change their practice in response. A number of providers appear to be asking for a pilot to better understand the effects.