CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (and Interim Final Rules) Summary – Part I

On December 2, 2020, CMS placed on public display a final rule relating to the Medicare physician fee schedule for CY 2021 and other revisions to Medicare Part B policies. The final rule is scheduled to be published in the December 28, 2020,  issue of the Federal Register. CMS is waiving the 60-day delay in effective date (in accord with the Congressional Review Act). CMS issues an interim final rules with comment  (IFC) to establish coding and payment for virtual check-in services to support the need for longer audio-only services outside the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19. CMS is also issuing an IFC to establish coding and payment for personal protective equipment (PPE) as a bundled payment, and include certain supply price increases for certain types of PPE. The comment period for the IFCs ends at close of business on December 28, 2020. Policies in the final rule and IFC generally go into effect on January 1, 2021, unless otherwise specified. This summary does not include updates to the Quality Payment Program.