A Medicare proposal that would have surgeons code their day's work in 10 minute segments "during global surgical packages" is widely disliked, Medscape reports.
Here's what you should know.
1. The proposal asks surgeons to use billing codes in 10-minute increments throughout their days in 10- and 90-day packages.
2. In a survey, 37 percent of the 7,000 surveyed surgeons, estimated it would cost between $25,000 and $100,000 to comply with the measure. Of the respondents, 15 percent said it would cost more than $100,000.
The surgeons said they'd need to "modify electronic health record and billing systems, hire scribes to document all 10-minute work segments and see fewer patients," if the proposal took effect.
3. Several professional societies have filed protests with CMS about the proposal. The groups are worried CMS will eliminate the packages altogether.
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