The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its has extended the testing and educational period of its appropriate use criteria (AUC) through 2021.
As required by the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, professionals and facilities furnishing advanced diagnostic imaging services under the physician fee schedule, the outpatient prospective payment system, or ambulatory surgical center prospective payment system are required to report consultation of AUC by the ordering clinician on the claim. However, during the testing and educational period, CMS will continue to pay claims that do not include the consultation information.