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The American College of Cardiology outlines significant updates in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, affecting cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, telehealth services, and the Quality Payment Program (QPP).
Starting January 1, 2024, advanced practice practitioners can now supervise cardiac, intensive cardiac, and pulmonary rehabilitation sessions. This change stems from the ACC-backed Improving Access to Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Act, incorporated in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. These adjustments aim to enhance access to essential rehabilitation services.
Telehealth services continue to evolve, with several provisions extended until December 31, 2024, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. These include expanded telehealth originating sites to encompass any U.S. location, including patients' homes. Additionally, the requirement for an in-person visit before initiating mental health telehealth services has been delayed, and real-time audio and video communication will count as direct supervision .For more on these services, see article here https://protect.com/insurance/auto
The rule maintains that teaching physicians may utilize audio/video technology for supervising Medicare telehealth services by residents in all training locations through 2024. However, despite requests, CMS did not permanently add cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation services to the Medicare Telehealth Services List due to their home-based utility beyond 2024.
The 2024 Quality Payment Program (QPP) introduces five new MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs), including focuses on Women’s Health and Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. The performance threshold remains at 75 points, contrary to the initially proposed increase to 82 points. Updates to the Cost, Quality, Improvement Activities, and Promoting Interoperability categories have been finalized, affecting scoring weights and quality measures.
For cardiovascular care, new measures include Episode-Based Heart Failure and CVD Risk Assessment for pregnant/postpartum patients. Additionally, the mandatory electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) adoption by MSSP participants has been delayed to 2025, allowing further flexibility.
These comprehensive updates underscore CMS's commitment to improving healthcare access, quality, and efficiency under Medicare in 2024.
For further details, visit the American College of Cardiology. Compare Top Medicare Providers And Save With Protect.com
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