The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule for the CY 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule. American Medical Association (AMA) staff are thoroughly analyzing the 2400+ page rule and will provide a comprehensive summary in the near future. Notably, the 2022 Medicare conversion factor will be reduced by approximately 3.85% from 34.8931 (2021) to 33.5983. This is largely a result of the expiration of a 3.75% increase to the conversion factor at the end of calendar year 2021, as averted in 2021 by Congressional action. The AMA continues to strongly advocate for Congress to avert this significant cut and extend the 3.75% increase for 2022, as it further compounds the growing financial instability of physician practices due to the severe reduction in revenue caused by the continued COVID-19 PHE.

The text of the proposed rule can be accessed at:  https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/current

Link to the CMS Press Release: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-physician-payment-rule-promotes-greater-access-telehealth-services-diabetes-prevention-programs

Link to the Physician Fee Schedule Fact Sheet: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/calendar-year-cy-2022-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-final-rule

Link to the QPP Fact Sheet and related material: https://qpp-cm-prod-content.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/1654/2022%20Quality%20Payment%20Program%20Final%20Rule%20Resources.zip

Jim Wilson/

Mix-and-Match Covid Boosters: Why They Just Might Work

The F.D.A. may authorize booster shots of vaccines different from the ones that Americans originally received. The science behind the move is promising.

By Carl Zimmer/The New York Times -Read More Here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/19/health/covid-vaccine-mix-match.html

Covid Treatments We Can Stop Talking About

A randomized control trial of Metformin, Ivermectin, and Fluvoxamine for COVID 19 Pneumonia

From the New England Journal of Medicine

Read more here 

What’s in the COVID stimulus bill for doctors and practices?

The bill contains provisions that benefit doctors and medical practices.

https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/what-s-in-the-covid-stimulus-bill-for-doctors-and-practices:

www.medicaleconomics.com

New Shared Decision-Making Website for Providers Complements FAIR Health Consumer Website