Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) professionals will see major changes in coding next year. CPT® 2010 adds four new Category I codes to report CCT and cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) services and deletes four Category III codes.

In a statement posted on its Web site prior to the Oct. 30 release of the 2010 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule, the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) said it did not foresee significant changes in payment for CCT/CCTA. They were singing another tune Nov. 2.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced, Oct. 30, final changes to 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) policies and payment rates. Taking into account all changes in the final rule, CMS projects a payment increase between 5 and 8 percent for health care professionals paid under the MPFS. That’s the good news …

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If, in fact, Medicare rates for physician services are inaccurate, how might the system be improved? The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) met earlier this month to answer that very question. In November, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will look at how relative values units (RVUs) are determined during a key process known as the five-year review, which will include a public comment period.

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The 46 percent cut in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) reimbursement and 22 percent inrease in positron emission tomography (PET) reimbursement the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing for 2010 has some speculating a significant rise in demand for cardiac PET in the coming years. Read more »

A new proposal from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to cut payments for radiation therapy treatments would cause many cancer centers to close, stop accepting Medicare patients, lay off support staff, and reduce services to cancer patients, according to a survey conducted by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

On July 13, CMS announced in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule for 2010 proposed changes to Medicare policies and payment rates for physician services, including radiation oncology, that would cut payments to radiation therapy services by nearly 20 percent. Read more »

A minor software problem resulted in the non-transmittal of some public comments on two proposed rules submitted between July 26-30 via www.regulations.gov.

The problem has been corrected and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requesting the public resubmit their comments on the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule or 2010 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System/Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System proposed rule before the close of the comment period for these rules (Aug. 31, 2009).

Click here for information on how to resubmit public comment on either of these two proposed rules.

A proposed rule that addresses Part B payment policies paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) went on display today in the Federal Register. The proposed rule with comment period includes several policy changes intended to help offset a much-anticipated payment cut in 2010.

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Effective April 1, a policy change mandated in the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule (FR Doc E8-26213) shortens the time physicians and nonphysician practioners (NPPs) have to retroactively bill for services after successful enrollment into the Medicare program from 27 months to 30 days. The policy change also gives physicians only 30 days to notify Medicare contractors of a change in their practice location. Failure to do so could mean expulsion from Medicare for up to two years, according to an American Medical News story.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently notified contractors that it amended payment files based on the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule. Transmittal 1691, Change Request (CR) 6397, issued March 4, instructs contractors to update their payment files in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB). Several important changes affecting all providers were made.

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Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) said it will recommend in it’s annual report to lawmakers that an annual update of 1.1 percent should be given to physicians and 0.6 percent to Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) in 2010. Although the pay increase is not in keeping with the 2.5 percent cost increase the commission estimates physicians will incur for providing care next year, it’s far better than the 21 percent pay cut currently on the table. AMNews has the rest of the story.