The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched “CMS: Beyond the Policy” podcasts last month to better explain updates and changes to Medicare policies and programs.

First Podcast? E/M

CMS: Beyond the Policy’s inaugural episode focuses on evaluation and management coding (E/M).  Last November, CMS finalized changes in how doctors and other clinicians  document office and bill outpatient visits to Medicare.  These changes are part of CMS’ “Patients Over Paperwork” initiative, the agency’s program to reduce provider paperwork.

“This program is a direct response to stakeholders’ suggestions that a podcast would be a modern, user-friendly way to stay informed about CMS,” Seema Verma, CMS administrator, said in a press release

New episodes of the podcast will be released periodically and will feature a range of subject-matter experts, stakeholders, and Verma.

They are for download at:

• Google Play: https://www.cms.gov/podcast/episode-1-evaluation-and-management-coding
• iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cms-beyond-the-policy/id1453108017