CMS has tweaked the proposed electronic clinical template it created for doctors to use when documenting face-to-face encounters.
 
As a result, providers now have another public comment period available to offer their thoughts on the voluntary form. Comments are due by Jan. 27.
 
Among the changes, the federal Medicare agency removed the paragraph on the form that read, “If the patient requiring home health services is being discharged to home from a hospital/acute care facility, and the discharging physician will not be following the patient after discharge, then please identify the community physician who will be taking over care for the patient.” During the prior comment period, the National Association of Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) noted that paragraph conflicts with current CMS policy. According to NAHC, the facility physician only would be required to identify the community physician if the facility physician was certifying the patient for home health care. 
 
Providers have previously argued that many doctors won't use the template.
 
Related links: View the latest version of the template at http://bit.ly/1OLkc2V. Read more about how to comment at http://1.usa.gov/1Se8xvN.