The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) received the 2014 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (Physician Fee Schedule) for review on November 21, 2013.  OMB is responsible for reviewing agency rules prior to publication to ensure the agency considered alternatives to the rulemaking and analyzing the rule’s effects on the general public.  Following the government shutdown, CMS announced in October that publication of the Physician Fee Schedule would be delayed until late November; however, the Physician Fee Schedule will still be effective on January 1, 2014.  To assist providers with the rapid implementation of the Physician Fee Schedule, CMS has arranged two National Provider Calls.  The first, to be held on December 3, 2013, will cover the value-based payment modifier in the Physician Fee Schedule.  On December 17, 2013, CMS will hold the second call to discuss physician quality reporting and electronic prescribing incentives outlined in the Physician Fee Schedule.  Additional information about these calls may be found here.      

Reporter, Paige Fillingame, Houston, +1 713 615 7632, pfillingame@kslaw.com.