Senators Ayotte & Shaheen Sign on F2F Letter
This week we sought additional support from our New Hampshire delegation on the face-to-face encounter issue, and received quick response.
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter last week, inviting their Senate colleagues to sign onto a letter urging CMS Administrator Berwick to remedy the burdensome, duplicative and unnecessary documentation requirements imposed by the new face-to-face physician encounter rule. We told the Senators' staff that New Hampshire home health agencies continue to cite the difficulties they are having getting complete, signed documentation from physicians in compliance with the rule. Even though we designed the simplest possible form, which was then endorsed and disseminated by the NH Medical Society, the NH Hospital Association and the Medical Group Management Association of NH, compliance remains challenging.
Both senators promptly agreed to sign on to the letter asking for a simplification of the documentation requirements. Our thanks to Senator Ayotte and Senator Shaheen for their continuing support.