In the latest released set of a 1,200+ page rule on July 29, CMS included proposed changes, as suggested by the American Medical Association (AMA), to payments for E/M visits starting in CY 2021.

The topic of “surprise” medical bills has been gaining traction with federal legislators even as some states have begun to pass their own laws intended to protect patients from the financial challenges these bills can create. Several members of Congress are taking on the issue.

A new California law requiring practitioners to disclose a probation status to their patients went into effect on July 1, 2019. Last September, then-Govenor Jerry Brown signed the “Patient’s Right to Know Act of 2018.”

To give members even more current information on bill activities in California and in Washington, D.C., CAP now offers insider information to members who choose to opt in for regular email updates.

While discussion of universal healthcare will likely continue at the national level, here in California, proposals emerging from the Governor’s Office and from legislative policymakers indicate a turn to a more measured, incremental approach toward increased healthcare accessibility, affordability, and coverage.