Practice Management

I recently became the Beneficiary Member for WPS's Carrier Advisory Committee for J5 - which covers Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.  This means I am an official member of the J5 Part B CAC.  Earlier today the Carrier Medical Director shared a CMS publication with the committee he feels is particularly relevant to stakeholders.  This document, which is publicly available, seems to describe the impact of the government's ending of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) will have on the waivers and flexibilities enacted during the emergency. 

Here is a link to the document.  If you look down the page a bit, you'll see a link titled "Physicians and Other Clinicians."  The date on that document is 2/22/2023.  So, it should be pretty current.  What caught my eye, and why I am posting it here, is what I read on page 11 under the section titled Workforce.  CMS seems to be addressing the Direct Supervision rules (I think) allowing a virtual presence in many cases.  I believe this is what allowed for the remote supervision of contrast injections. It appears, if I am reading this guidance correctly, that this waiver/flexibility will end at the end of the year.  I copied this section below verbatim.  

Admittedly, since I retired pre-PHE, I've paid little attention to this issue.  Perhaps this is not news.  Perhaps other rules/regulations have changed that will continue to allow remote supervision of contrast injections. However, in the event that neither is the case, I wanted to post this information here as soon as possible. 

If this is old news, just disregard.  

Mike Bohl

------------------------------Page 11-------------------------------

• Medicare Physician Supervision Requirements: CMS has temporarily modified the regulatory definition of direct supervision, which requires the supervising physician or 
practitioner to be "immediately available" to furnish assistance and direction during the service, to include "virtual presence" of the supervising clinician through the use of realtime audio and video technology. This flexibility is currently set to return to pre-PHE rules at the end of the calendar year that the PHE ends

Thank you! I had read that it would be ending, but it really didn't say when.  All good things come to an end I guess.  Happy Friday.

I recently became the Beneficiary Member for WPS's Carrier Advisory Committee for J5 - which covers Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.  This means I am an official member of the J5 Part B CAC.  Earlier today the Carrier Medical Director shared a CMS publication with the committee he feels is particularly relevant to stakeholders.  This document, which is publicly available, seems to describe the impact of the government's ending of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) will have on the waivers and flexibilities enacted during the emergency. 

Here is a link to the document.  If you look down the page a bit, you'll see a link titled "Physicians and Other Clinicians."  The date on that document is 2/22/2023.  So, it should be pretty current.  What caught my eye, and why I am posting it here, is what I read on page 11 under the section titled Workforce.  CMS seems to be addressing the Direct Supervision rules (I think) allowing a virtual presence in many cases.  I believe this is what allowed for the remote supervision of contrast injections. It appears, if I am reading this guidance correctly, that this waiver/flexibility will end at the end of the year.  I copied this section below verbatim.  

Admittedly, since I retired pre-PHE, I've paid little attention to this issue.  Perhaps this is not news.  Perhaps other rules/regulations have changed that will continue to allow remote supervision of contrast injections. However, in the event that neither is the case, I wanted to post this information here as soon as possible. 

If this is old news, just disregard.  

Mike Bohl

------------------------------Page 11-------------------------------

• Medicare Physician Supervision Requirements: CMS has temporarily modified the regulatory definition of direct supervision, which requires the supervising physician or 
practitioner to be "immediately available" to furnish assistance and direction during the service, to include "virtual presence" of the supervising clinician through the use of realtime audio and video technology. This flexibility is currently set to return to pre-PHE rules at the end of the calendar year that the PHE ends

I recently became the Beneficiary Member for WPS's Carrier Advisory Committee for J5 - which covers Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.  This means I am an official member of the J5 Part B CAC.  Earlier today the Carrier Medical Director shared a CMS publication with the committee he feels is particularly relevant to stakeholders.  This document, which is publicly available, seems to describe the impact of the government's ending of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) will have on the waivers and flexibilities enacted during the emergency. 

Here is a link to the document.  If you look down the page a bit, you'll see a link titled "Physicians and Other Clinicians."  The date on that document is 2/22/2023.  So, it should be pretty current.  What caught my eye, and why I am posting it here, is what I read on page 11 under the section titled Workforce.  CMS seems to be addressing the Direct Supervision rules (I think) allowing a virtual presence in many cases.  I believe this is what allowed for the remote supervision of contrast injections. It appears, if I am reading this guidance correctly, that this waiver/flexibility will end at the end of the year.  I copied this section below verbatim.  

Admittedly, since I retired pre-PHE, I've paid little attention to this issue.  Perhaps this is not news.  Perhaps other rules/regulations have changed that will continue to allow remote supervision of contrast injections. However, in the event that neither is the case, I wanted to post this information here as soon as possible. 

If this is old news, just disregard.  

Mike Bohl

------------------------------Page 11-------------------------------

• Medicare Physician Supervision Requirements: CMS has temporarily modified the regulatory definition of direct supervision, which requires the supervising physician or 
practitioner to be "immediately available" to furnish assistance and direction during the service, to include "virtual presence" of the supervising clinician through the use of realtime audio and video technology. This flexibility is currently set to return to pre-PHE rules at the end of the calendar year that the PHE ends

Hey Mike,

I believe the supervision rules were temporarily put in place during COVID and were extended for another year during the last rulemaking cycle.  However, I haven't been watching it that closely since I am retired too.  Your service to the radiology community on health policy continues to be unwavering.  A true testimony to why you are a FRBMA.

Hope all is well.

Pam

I recently became the Beneficiary Member for WPS's Carrier Advisory Committee for J5 - which covers Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.  This means I am an official member of the J5 Part B CAC.  Earlier today the Carrier Medical Director shared a CMS publication with the committee he feels is particularly relevant to stakeholders.  This document, which is publicly available, seems to describe the impact of the government's ending of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) will have on the waivers and flexibilities enacted during the emergency. 

Here is a link to the document.  If you look down the page a bit, you'll see a link titled "Physicians and Other Clinicians."  The date on that document is 2/22/2023.  So, it should be pretty current.  What caught my eye, and why I am posting it here, is what I read on page 11 under the section titled Workforce.  CMS seems to be addressing the Direct Supervision rules (I think) allowing a virtual presence in many cases.  I believe this is what allowed for the remote supervision of contrast injections. It appears, if I am reading this guidance correctly, that this waiver/flexibility will end at the end of the year.  I copied this section below verbatim.  

Admittedly, since I retired pre-PHE, I've paid little attention to this issue.  Perhaps this is not news.  Perhaps other rules/regulations have changed that will continue to allow remote supervision of contrast injections. However, in the event that neither is the case, I wanted to post this information here as soon as possible. 

If this is old news, just disregard.  

Mike Bohl

------------------------------Page 11-------------------------------

• Medicare Physician Supervision Requirements: CMS has temporarily modified the regulatory definition of direct supervision, which requires the supervising physician or 
practitioner to be "immediately available" to furnish assistance and direction during the service, to include "virtual presence" of the supervising clinician through the use of realtime audio and video technology. This flexibility is currently set to return to pre-PHE rules at the end of the calendar year that the PHE ends

Hey Mike,

I believe the supervision rules were temporarily put in place during COVID and were extended for another year during the last rulemaking cycle.  However, I haven't been watching it that closely since I am retired too.  Your service to the radiology community on health policy continues to be unwavering.  A true testimony to why you are a FRBMA.

Hope all is well.

Pam

I recently became the Beneficiary Member for WPS's Carrier Advisory Committee for J5 - which covers Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.  This means I am an official member of the J5 Part B CAC.  Earlier today the Carrier Medical Director shared a CMS publication with the committee he feels is particularly relevant to stakeholders.  This document, which is publicly available, seems to describe the impact of the government's ending of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) will have on the waivers and flexibilities enacted during the emergency. 

Here is a link to the document.  If you look down the page a bit, you'll see a link titled "Physicians and Other Clinicians."  The date on that document is 2/22/2023.  So, it should be pretty current.  What caught my eye, and why I am posting it here, is what I read on page 11 under the section titled Workforce.  CMS seems to be addressing the Direct Supervision rules (I think) allowing a virtual presence in many cases.  I believe this is what allowed for the remote supervision of contrast injections. It appears, if I am reading this guidance correctly, that this waiver/flexibility will end at the end of the year.  I copied this section below verbatim.  

Admittedly, since I retired pre-PHE, I've paid little attention to this issue.  Perhaps this is not news.  Perhaps other rules/regulations have changed that will continue to allow remote supervision of contrast injections. However, in the event that neither is the case, I wanted to post this information here as soon as possible. 

If this is old news, just disregard.  

Mike Bohl

------------------------------Page 11-------------------------------

• Medicare Physician Supervision Requirements: CMS has temporarily modified the regulatory definition of direct supervision, which requires the supervising physician or 
practitioner to be "immediately available" to furnish assistance and direction during the service, to include "virtual presence" of the supervising clinician through the use of realtime audio and video technology. This flexibility is currently set to return to pre-PHE rules at the end of the calendar year that the PHE ends

Hey Mike,

I believe the supervision rules were temporarily put in place during COVID and were extended for another year during the last rulemaking cycle.  However, I haven't been watching it that closely since I am retired too.  Your service to the radiology community on health policy continues to be unwavering.  A true testimony to why you are a FRBMA.

Hope all is well.

Pam

I recently became the Beneficiary Member for WPS's Carrier Advisory Committee for J5 - which covers Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.  This means I am an official member of the J5 Part B CAC.  Earlier today the Carrier Medical Director shared a CMS publication with the committee he feels is particularly relevant to stakeholders.  This document, which is publicly available, seems to describe the impact of the government's ending of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) will have on the waivers and flexibilities enacted during the emergency. 

Here is a link to the document.  If you look down the page a bit, you'll see a link titled "Physicians and Other Clinicians."  The date on that document is 2/22/2023.  So, it should be pretty current.  What caught my eye, and why I am posting it here, is what I read on page 11 under the section titled Workforce.  CMS seems to be addressing the Direct Supervision rules (I think) allowing a virtual presence in many cases.  I believe this is what allowed for the remote supervision of contrast injections. It appears, if I am reading this guidance correctly, that this waiver/flexibility will end at the end of the year.  I copied this section below verbatim.  

Admittedly, since I retired pre-PHE, I've paid little attention to this issue.  Perhaps this is not news.  Perhaps other rules/regulations have changed that will continue to allow remote supervision of contrast injections. However, in the event that neither is the case, I wanted to post this information here as soon as possible. 

If this is old news, just disregard.  

Mike Bohl

------------------------------Page 11-------------------------------

• Medicare Physician Supervision Requirements: CMS has temporarily modified the regulatory definition of direct supervision, which requires the supervising physician or 
practitioner to be "immediately available" to furnish assistance and direction during the service, to include "virtual presence" of the supervising clinician through the use of realtime audio and video technology. This flexibility is currently set to return to pre-PHE rules at the end of the calendar year that the PHE ends

Hey Mike,

I believe the supervision rules were temporarily put in place during COVID and were extended for another year during the last rulemaking cycle.  However, I haven't been watching it that closely since I am retired too.  Your service to the radiology community on health policy continues to be unwavering.  A true testimony to why you are a FRBMA.

Hope all is well.

Pam

I recently became the Beneficiary Member for WPS's Carrier Advisory Committee for J5 - which covers Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.  This means I am an official member of the J5 Part B CAC.  Earlier today the Carrier Medical Director shared a CMS publication with the committee he feels is particularly relevant to stakeholders.  This document, which is publicly available, seems to describe the impact of the government's ending of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) will have on the waivers and flexibilities enacted during the emergency. 

Here is a link to the document.  If you look down the page a bit, you'll see a link titled "Physicians and Other Clinicians."  The date on that document is 2/22/2023.  So, it should be pretty current.  What caught my eye, and why I am posting it here, is what I read on page 11 under the section titled Workforce.  CMS seems to be addressing the Direct Supervision rules (I think) allowing a virtual presence in many cases.  I believe this is what allowed for the remote supervision of contrast injections. It appears, if I am reading this guidance correctly, that this waiver/flexibility will end at the end of the year.  I copied this section below verbatim.  

Admittedly, since I retired pre-PHE, I've paid little attention to this issue.  Perhaps this is not news.  Perhaps other rules/regulations have changed that will continue to allow remote supervision of contrast injections. However, in the event that neither is the case, I wanted to post this information here as soon as possible. 

If this is old news, just disregard.  

Mike Bohl

------------------------------Page 11-------------------------------

• Medicare Physician Supervision Requirements: CMS has temporarily modified the regulatory definition of direct supervision, which requires the supervising physician or 
practitioner to be "immediately available" to furnish assistance and direction during the service, to include "virtual presence" of the supervising clinician through the use of realtime audio and video technology. This flexibility is currently set to return to pre-PHE rules at the end of the calendar year that the PHE ends