The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has responded to an Oct. 14, 2021, letter from the AMA, ISMA and other physician organizations, expressing concerns about fees being charged to physicians who opt to receive reimbursement via HIPAA electronic funds transfers (EFTs). Mary G. Green, MD, director of the Office of Burden Reduction and Health Informatics, said CMS will carefully review the policy and enforcement issues physicians raised.

In the Oct. 14 sign-on letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the AMA called the fees “unfair business practices” and asked the CMS National Standards Group to issue guidance affirming physicians’ right to be paid through EFTs without additional fees and to enforce that policy. 

“The agency is giving careful consideration to the policy and enforcement issues you raised,” Dr. Green replied on Dec. 9. “This includes analyzing your specific concerns and recommendations to help HHS achieve our goal of reforming, strengthening, and modernizing the Nation’s healthcare system.” 

The AMA said it will follow up with CMS and continue to work toward resolving physicians’ concerns.