Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1531804
5 ASC MANAGEMENT The small wins for physicians inside CMS' 2025 payment schedule By Francesca Mathewes C MS recently released its 2025 physician payment rule, which included a 2.83% cut to physician payments, marking the fih consecutive year of cuts. While the cuts have been met with pushback from physician advocacy groups, a Dec. 23 news release by the American Medical Association noted that there were several points in CMS' final ruling that reflected the organization's positions. Here are three inclusions to the final rule supported by the AMA: 1. Extensions to telehealth. Telehealth extensions that were put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic were extended through March 2025 by Congress in a downsized funding bill. CMS will also allow for billing for telehealth services delivered via telephone and other audio-only devices. is rule specifically applies to patients who cannot or do not consent to use audiovisual technology for diagnosis, evaluation or treatment of a mental health or substance-use disorder and for monthly assessment of end stage renal disease. CMS also extended the suspension of frequency limits on subsequent hospital and nursing facility telehealth visits and the ability of teaching physicians to provide virtual direct supervision and virtual supervision of residents when the resident provides telehealth services. Physicians who provide telehealth from their homes do not have to report their home address to Medicare. 2. MIPS thresholds maintained. CMS did not increase thresholds for incurring a financial penalty under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System. e threshold will be maintained through 2025, which affects MIPS payments in 2027. CMS also modified its methodology for the MIPS cost-performance category with the goal of increasing scores for physicians whose average costs are near the median. 3. More equity in cancer screening. CMS finalized its proposal regarding the expansion of coverage for colorectal cancer screenings. e rule will promote cancer prevention efforts in rural communities and in populations with higher rates of CRC, including Black and Native American communities. n St. Luke's to open new outpatient center in 2025 By Francesca Mathewes B ethlehem, Pa.-based St. Luke's University Health Network is constructing a new medical center, The Morning Call reported Dec. 26. The facility will house urgent care, occupational medicine, orthopedics, women's health, and X-ray and lab services,. The 22,500-square-foot medical center is projected to be completed in spring 2025. n ASC leadership moves to know in 2024 By Francesca Mathewes Here are 15 healthcare leadership moves for ASC leaders and physicians to know in 2024: 1. e former CEO of Walgreens' VillageMD, Tim Barry, stepped down from his position. COO Jim Murray was appointed as interim CEO Nov. 27 following Mr. Barry's departure. 2. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based multispecialty physician group Holy Cross Medical Group named Maggy Perez-Dickens as its new president. 3. e CFO and CIO of Nashville, Ten.-based Envision Healthcare, the former owner of ASC chain AmSurg, will exit their positions in January. 4. Karen Lynch, former CEO of CVS Health, stepped down from her position and was replaced by David Joyner Oct. 17. 5. In early October, Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare made several leadership moves, appointing new C-suite executives at seven HCA locations. 6. Murali Naidu, MD, was appointed CEO of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare-owned San Ramon Regional Medical Center in Turlock, Calif. 7. Michael Klein was named CEO of Tenet's Emanuel Medical Center, also in Turlock. 8. Tina Burch, MSN, RN, was named CEO of Doctors Hospital of Manteca (Calif.) 9. Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente named Christopher Fontes as Northern California executive director of revenue cycle. 10. Charlottesville, Va.-based UVA Health faculty signed a no- confidence letter against the system's CEO and executive vice president. 11. Simon Nazarian was named executive vice president and chief digital and technology officer of Duarte, Calif.-based City of Hope.