The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) update (Final 2011 Update), first proposed by CMS on July 13, 2010. The Final 2011 Update finalizes rules implementing key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act). The Final 2011 Update was published in the November 29, 2010, Federal Register, and is effective January 1, 2011. Comments on interim final rules contained in the Final 2011 Update are due January 3, 2011.

The Final 2011 Update affects a range of Medicare Part B payment policies, including policies affecting access to wellness and preventative services, e-prescribing incentives for physicians, outpatient rehabilitation coverage, diagnostic imaging reimbursement, telehealth coverage and the Stark in-office ancillary services exception. This White Paper discusses certain of the more notable provisions of the Final 2011 Update.