CMS Seeks Additional Feedback on Scope of Practice Laws

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking additional feedback and recommendations regarding the elimination of specific Medicare regulations that require more stringent supervision than existing state scope of practice laws, or that limit health professionals from practicing at the top of their license.

This request from CMS stems from President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) #13890: Protecting and Improving Medicare for our Nation’s Seniors, which directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to propose a number of reforms to the Medicare program. These reforms include those that eliminate supervision and licensure requirements of the Medicare program that are more stringent than other applicable federal or state laws and often limit health care professionals, such as Physician Assistants (PAs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) from practicing at the top of their professional license.

CMS did incorporate some of the recommendations previously submitted in several payment rules, including the calendar year (CY) 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), where one of the changes included redefining physician supervision for services furnished by Physician Assistants (PAs).

If members have additional recommendations on ways to reduce unnecessary burden, increase efficiencies, and improve the beneficiary experience, please send them to this email with “Scope of Practice” in the subject line. Recommendations must be submitted by January 17, 2020.