CMS seeks feedback on aligning, simplifying coding and documentation requirements

On June 11, CMS published a Request for Information (RFI) as part of its Patients Over Paperwork initiative to collect public input on ways to reduce unnecessary administrative and regulatory burden.

This is not the first time CMS has sought feedback on methods to reduce administrative burden. Through previous listening sessions and RFIs, CMS collected thousands of comments and is actively working on addressing those comments deemed actionable. The current RFI aims to collect feedback on several specific topics that have not yet been addressed. These include:

• Aligning Medicare, Medicaid, and other payer coding, payment, and documentation requirements
• Enabling feedback and data sharing to support patient care and the clinician-patient relationship
• Recommendations for when and how CMS issues regulations and how CMS can simplify rules and policies for beneficiaries, clinicians, and providers
• Streamlining reporting and documentation requirements or processes to monitor compliance

Respondents should provide clear, complete comments and should include, when possible, data and specific examples. The comment period closes August 12, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.