A sound patient-provider communication is vital for the progress of healthcare. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule, which is vouched by officials as “historic changes” to the Medicare program. It is aimed at restoring the doctor-patient relationship.

Seema Verma, CMS Administrator mentioned that officials had given an ear to physicians and introduced changes in order to give them more time with patients.

She also brought home the point that the proposal aims to give importance to patients over paperwork by encouraging doctors to spend more time with their patients. Physicians face the challenge of struggling with excessive regulatory requirements and paperwork that are unnecessary. This steals away time that should be spent on patient care.

The changes to be introduced include:

1. Streamlining documentation requirements for evaluation and management of office visits thus saving doctors’ time.
2. Clinicians will be paid for more virtual care provided via technology.
3. Lowering costs of new drugs introduced in the market.
4. Doctors in small practices not meeting existing thresholds to participate in MIPS will be given the choice to opt into the program.