(July 8, 2015: Alexandria, Va) - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule that makes the two advance care planning codes established in FY2015 "active" and begins the process of allowing physicians to code and be paid for advance care planning discussions they have with their patients.  The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization enthusiastically supports this new proposed rule, and plans to comment on the great value of having these important and complicated conversations with Medicare beneficiaries.  

In the CY2015 final rule, published late in 2014, the CPT Editorial Panel established two codes for physicians to document advance care planning conversations, one code for the first 30 minutes, and a second add-on code for additional 30 minute conversations.  However, in the CY2015 final rule, reimbursement was not attached.  

With the release of this proposed rule, CMS is indicating that the establishment of payment rates for advance care planning conversations between physicians and patients can begin as early as January 1, 2016 and that physicians  will receive payment for these important physician-patient conversations around advance directives and discussions around patient goals of care.

More on the NHPCO website