As of February 21, CMS officials are planning to withdraw the provision of the Physician Fee Schedule Final rule that requires a physician’s or qualified non-physician practitioner’s signature on all requisition’s for tests paid on the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule.
The provision was to take effect January 1, 2011 and was delayed through the first quarter of 2011. Concerns of potential negative impact that this new provision could have on health care providers was brought to the forefront and noticed by members of Congress. As a result, several Representatives and Senators from Texas and New Jersey wrote CMS on February 10 asking the agency to further delay the rule.
The letters were submitted with signatures from 89 members of the House and 26 members of the Senate urging CMS to reconsider the regulation.