2010-01-14

On January 12, ASH and other physician organizations sent a letter to Congress urging support for legislation to delay for one year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) decision to eliminate payments for consult codes. The delay would allow the Secretary to work with the American Medical Association Current Procedural Terminology Editorial Panel to modify existing consultation codes or establish new codes to accurately reflect the work of consultation services and to minimize coding errors. A delay will ensure that the impact of this new policy is thoroughly studied and patients and physicians are not negatively impacted by a hasty implementation.

The 2010 final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule eliminated the consultation codes, effective January 1, 2010. CMS directs providers to report other evaluation management codes in lieu of the consultation codes. A thorough explanation of how these changes will impact your practice and further guidance are available on the ASH Web site. 

ASH will continue efforts to repeal this Medicare change. Activities to date have included an advocacy campaign, letters, and meetings with CMS staff.

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