CAP's Hotline receives frequent calls requesting guidelines on discontinuing/terminating this patient-physician relationship, not because of wellness, but because the physician no longer desires to have the patient in his practice. From these calls, we have learned of "misunderstandings," which this article intends to clarify. 

On February 5 of this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Medicare coverage by adding a screening for lung cancer with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) if certain eligibility requirements are met.

The California Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) -- known as Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) -- has been upgraded in conjunction with Senate Bill 809 andCalifornia Health & Safety Code §11165.1.

In early July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that for a period of one year, it will allow for flexibility in the claims payment, auditing and quality reporting processes as the medical community gains experience using the new ICD-10 code set.

It is important to have a clear, methodic process in place to ensure continuity of care when a patient is referred to a specialist or on-going care is transferred to another physician.