December 21, 2001

AAMC Testifies before PPAC on Medicare Teaching Physician Documentation Requirements

At the Dec. 10 meeting of the Practicing Physician's Advisory Council (PPAC), Dr. Albert Bothe, Jr., executive director, University of Chicago Faculty Practice Plan, compliance officer and professor of Clinical Surgery, University of Chicago Medical School, and medical director, University of Chicago Health Plan and a member of AAMC's Group on Faculty Practice Steering Committee and chair of its Subcommittee on Legislative and Regulatory Issues, testified on behalf of the AAMC on documentation requirements for teaching physicians.

PPAC is a mandated advisory body to HHS that provides input on regulatory and carrier manual issues relevant to physicians. The meeting discussion covered a variety of topics, including documentation requirements for teaching physicians. Working with the CMS Physicians Regulatory Issues Team (PRIT) under the leadership of Dr. Barbara Paul, additional CMS staff examined section 15016 of the Medicare Carrier Manual Instructions, which speaks to Teaching Physician Documentation Requirements. Modifications to the Instructions are being proposed that are intended to reduce the regulatory burden of the documentation requirements.

The proposed changes are a significant first step in addressing regulatory burden related to teaching physician documentation requirements. The draft revisions more accurately reflect academic practice environments and reduce the need for teaching physicians to document unnecessary, duplicative information.

PPAC also discussed the potential expansion of the Primary Care Exception (PCE). Modifications to the PCE would require changes in the relevant rule. PPAC directed CMS staff to examine the issue of potential expansion of the PCE.

AAMC staff will continue to monitor the proposed changes to the Carrier Manual and the review of the Primary Care Exception and work with CMS staff to articulate the needs of the academic community. Members will be notified of final changes as soon as they are adopted.

Information: Denise E. Dodero, AAMC Division of Health Care Affairs, 202-828-0493.