CMS www.cms.gov has finalized the 2017 Physician Fee Schedule final rule by improving payment for chronic care management and behavioral health. The rule also finalizes policies to expand the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) starting January 1, 2018.
“Through the MDPP expanded model, eligible beneficiaries will be able to access a community-based intervention that prevents diabetes through proven measures to keep people healthy,” said Patrick Conway, Acting Principal Deputy Administrator and CMS Chief Medical Officer.
The rule’s finalized primary care policies discuss how Medicare pays for services provided by primary care physicians and other practitioners for patients with multiple chronic conditions, for mental and behavioral health issues, as well as cognitive impairment.
The annual Physician Fee Schedule updates payment polices, payment rates, and quality provisions for services provided in calendar year 2017. These services include but are not limited to visits, surgical procedures, diagnostic tests, therapy services, and specified preventive services.
Also the rule will finalize payments for codes that describe specific behavioral health services using the psychiatric Collaborative Care Model. In this model, patients are cared for by a team involving a primary care practitioner, behavioral healthcare manager, and psychiatric consultant.
This rule is also finalizing payment to physicians to perform cognitive and functional assessment and care planning for patients with cognitive impairment related perhaps to Alzheimer’s.