General Surgery Coding Alert

Question: I heard CMS now has a podcast to update policy information. Is that true, and if so, how can I access it?

Codify Subscriber

Answer: Yes, it’s true that CMS has a new podcast format for communicating some information in a user-friendly format, but it won’t replace transmittals and other official communication.

After hearing from stakeholders on improving communication, the agency decided to introduce the podcast, which is more “modern” and “user-friendly,” indicated CMS Administrator Seema Verma in a release about the new podcast. “The new podcast demonstrates our commitment to transparency and outreach by presenting CMS-related policies, updates, and innovations on as many platforms as possible.”

The podcast, titled “CMS: Beyond the Policy,” aired for the first time on Feb. 19 and focused on E/M changes addressed in the CY 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) that aim to reduce administrative burdens.

CMS did not relay any future topics or dates, but offered that “new episodes of the podcast will be released periodically and will welcome a range of subject-matter experts, stakeholders, and Administrator Verma herself,” according to the agency.

The current podcast is available for download on iTunes and Google Play. Read about “CMS: Beyond the Policy” at www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-launches-podcast-reach-stakeholders-modern-platform.