States that expanded Medicaid in 2014 saw a 45 percent decline in the mean flow of medical debt collections compared to states that chose not to expand Medicaid or those that expanded after 2014, according to a study published in JAMA Network. Medical debt has become the largest source of debt in collections in the US over the past decade.

On July 13, 2021, CMS released the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (Proposed Rule). In addition to the standard proposals related to rate setting for the coming year, the Proposed Rule also includes a number of proposed policy changes, several of which relate to payment for Evaluation and Management (E/M) visits.

CMS has added coverage for 'remote therapeutic monitoring' services in its proposed 2022 Physician Fee Schedule, but for health systems with remote patient monitoring programs, there are still questions about reimbursement.

The AMA raised serious concerns about the lack of notice and short comment time frame for a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation regarding measures that health care organizations must take to protect workers amid COVID-19.

Medicare intends next year to allow physician assistants (PAs) to begin directly billing for their work and to expand coverage of telehealth services. It also intends to change the approach to payments for office visits and for coaching programs for diabetes prevention.