Public Comment on Medicare Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule

Public Comment on Medicare Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule

CSOMA has submitted a Public Comment regarding proposed changes in the 2021 CMS Fee schedule for CPT codes 97810-97814.

In summary, the proposed changes devalue acupuncture treatments to the point where it may not be financially feasible for Licensed Acupuncturists to serve Medicare beneficiaries and other insurance patients.

Page 286 of the Federal Register lists the proposed rule changes, stating:

“…That the RVUs for the acupuncture codes were based on a pair of crosswalks to two recently reviewed codes in the Dry Needling family…Due to the similar clinical nature of these services and their nearly identical work times, we believe that it is more accurate to propose cross walking CPT codes 97810 through 97814 to the work RVUs of the Dry Needling codes, which were finalized last year, as opposed to proposing work RVUs from 2004, which were never reviewed by CMS.”

The CMS is accepting public comments until October 5, 2020, by 5:00 PM. We encourage ALL practitioners and supporters of acupuncture to submit a public comment. Acupuncturists who do not accept insurance should also be encouraged to comment because this change will have an impact on our profession.

TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT

Please visit the ASA’s Public Comment on CY 2021 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and follow the instructions for submitting public comment on this important issue.

CSOMA’s Public Comment on CY 2021 Payment Policies under PFS

Sunset Review Hearing 2018

Sunset Review Hearing 2018

On Monday, February 26, 2018, the California Acupuncture Board faced its Joint Sunset Review Hearing by the Senate Committee on Business, Professions & Economic Development and the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions. The public event was held at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

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CSOMA Update: February Stakeholder Meeting

CSOMA Update: February Stakeholder Meeting

February 2nd and 4th marked a historical day for the acupuncture profession in California.

CSOMA President, Tiffany Tuftee and Board of Director Representative, Bruce Gustafson were in attendance to discuss unification of the profession. Assemblymember Evan Low and his colleagues helped organize the meeting to open the dialogue about why it is important to unite our profession in California. The takeaway message from our meeting:

To be heard on legislative initiatives that move our profession forward, we must have a clear and consistent message from the acupuncture profession as a whole.

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Committee Updates – January 2018

Committee Updates – January 2018

February 2nd and 4th marked a historical day for the acupuncture profession in California.

CSOMA President, Tiffany Tuftee and Board of Director Representative, Bruce Gustafson were in attendance to discuss unification of the profession. Assemblymember Evan Low and his colleagues helped organize the meeting to open the dialogue about why it is important to unite our profession in California. The takeaway message from our meeting:

To be heard on legislative initiatives that move our profession forward, we must have a clear and consistent message from the acupuncture profession as a whole.

(more…)

CSOMA to Weigh in: Acupuncture Association Stakeholder Meetings Scheduled for 2018

CSOMA to Weigh in: Acupuncture Association Stakeholder Meetings Scheduled for 2018

In preparation for the upcoming 2018 Sunset Review of the California Acupuncture Board (CAB), Assemblymember Evan Low will be holding three Acupuncture Association Stakeholder Meetings in both Southern and Northern California as well as in Sacramento over the next two months. Assemblymember Low chairs the Committee on Business and Professions, which oversees the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) and the California Acupuncture Board (CAB).

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Tag: public policy