New CMS rule facilitates ARPN, CRNA practice

Nursing groups hailed the decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to publish a final rule changing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ payment and documentation policies under Medicare Part B. The rule, which takes effect Nov. 15, will reduce medical record evaluation and management documentation requirements by enabling advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants “to review and verify, rather than redocument, information included in the medical record by physicians, residents, nurses, students, or other members of the health care team.” The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) called the rule “a monumental step in reducing burden and eliminating disparities in clinical training opportunities.” An earlier draft of the proposed rule did not include certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), who also bill for their professional services under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The final rule was amended to include CRNAs and their students and to explicitly acknowledge CRNAs as a category of APRNs, a move commended by their professional association. The rule change follows from the Trump administration directive to federal agencies to reduce regulatory burdens. (AACN’s Washington Weekly story, 11/6/19)