CMS proposes paying providers to discuss end-of-life choices with patients

CMS has proposed paying healthcare providers for the time they spend discussing end-of-life medical choices with patients, Modern Healthcare reports. The proposal is in the draft of the next Medical fee schedule and would begin January 1.

The proposal follows Dying in America, a 2014 Institute of Medicine report that recommended paying providers for advance care planning to reduce unnecessary and unwanted procedures. Payment is proposed on two levels: one for the first 30 minutes of consultation and another for each additional 30 minutes after that. CMS said the figures would be approximately $86 and $75, respectively.

Read the Modern Healthcare article.