On September 29, 2005, the Academy submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the Proposed Rule revising Payment Policies under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for 2006. CMS has proposed to eliminate the Non-Physician Work Pool (NPWP), resulting in a 21% decrease in reimbursement for audiology services over the next four years. In response to this proposal, the Academy urged CMS to develop a reasonable formula for calculating reimbursement that will fairly and adequately reimburse audiologists for their services.
The Academy worked with other organizations in the audiology community and with consumer organizations to request a one-year moratorium on the proposed reductions in reimbursement so that an equitable methodology for audiology services can be developed. In addition, over 100 letters from concerned Academy members were submitted to CMS during the proposed rule comment period. The Academy secured letters in both the House and Senate to support the Academy's request for a one-year moratorium. CMS is expected to release the final rule in November.
Reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Audiology's Health Care Policy Update, Sept/Oct 2005.
