Payment Rate Changes for the Physician Fee Schedule in 2012

Today, CMS announced a new rule to update payment policies and rates for physicians and nonphysician practitioners for services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in 2012. CMS projects that total payments will be $80 billion.

This proposed rule will ensure Medicare is paying accurately for physician services and more closely managing the payment system. CMS is evaluating high priced services to see if they are being overused and E/M codes to see if they are being underused.

CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule until Aug. 30, 2011, and will review and respond to all comments in a final rule to be issued by Nov. 1, 2011.

Also, for additional information please the CMS Fact Sheets (7/1) click here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp

Blog: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/blog/physicians07012011.html

Physician Fee PPS Rule at Federal Register (PDF): http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-16972_PI.pdf