CMS Releases The 2019 MPFS And QPP Final Rules

Miranda A Franco is Senior Policy Advisor in Holland & Knight's Washington D.C. office

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the Calendar Year (CY) 2019 Final Rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), which includes provisions related to Medicare physician payments as well as regulations for the Quality Payment Program (QPP).
• Among notable changes, CMS finalized policies that would reduce provider reimbursement rates for new drugs under Medicare Part B, increase access to telehealth services, and revise a controversial evaluation and management proposal.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Nov. 1, 2018, published the Calendar Year (CY) 2019 Final Rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). Although in previous years regulations for the Quality Payment Program (QPP) were released independently, the 2019 Medicare PFS Final Rule includes provisions related to Medicare physician