August 27, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) recently announced the extension of its Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) compliance requirement to Jan. 1, 2022, giving providers the duration of 2020 and calendar year 2021 to prepare.
With the deadline extension, there are no payment consequences associated with PAMA compliance during calendar years 2020 and 2021. On Jan. 1, 2022, CMS will begin to withhold payment if proof of a CDS solution is not in place when ordering advanced imaging services.
According to Premier, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) CMS expects providers to use this additional time to prepare for an effective PAMA-compliant CDS solution that aids in ordering appropriate advanced diagnostic imaging services for Medicare fee-for-service patients.
The GPO says that “it is critical for providers to actively work toward implementing a CDS solution during this time and take advantage of a penalty-free period to put a plan in place.”
