AMA Clinical Examples in Radiology - 2008 Bulletin 2
Summary of Provisions in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 That Directly Affect Radiology
Summary of Provisions in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 That Directly Affect Radiology Physician Reimbursement Cuts Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331) repeals a statutorily mandated 10.6% physician payment cut, which became effective on July 1, 2008, as well as an additional 5% cut set for January 1, 2009, and instead extends the current payment rate for the rest of 2008 and a 1.1% update through 2009. The physician reimbursement cuts averted by this congressional action are required by the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula...
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Article Overview
This article reviews Medicare legislation from 2008 and its direct impact on radiology. It covers physician reimbursement changes, geographic practice cost adjustments, imaging accreditation requirements, an appropriateness-criteria pilot, and updates to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. The piece is relevant to radiology practices, imaging facilities, and coding or reimbursement staff who follow Medicare policy developments and quality-reporting programs.
Why This Topic Matters
The article explains policy changes that influence reimbursement, accreditation, and reporting expectations for imaging providers, making it useful for understanding Medicare administrative and operational changes affecting radiology.
Article Sections
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Physician Reimbursement Cuts
Discusses Medicare physician payment updates and the broader context of Sustainable Growth Rate-related changes affecting reimbursement.
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Extends Work Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCI) Floor Through 2009 and Provides a 1.5 Work GPCI for Alaska Starting in 2009
Addresses geographic practice cost adjustments and the timing of related Medicare payment changes for physician work values.
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Mandatory Imaging Accreditation by 2012 and Appropriateness Criteria Pilot Project to Begin in 2010
Covers accreditation requirements for advanced diagnostic imaging and a demonstration project related to imaging appropriateness criteria.
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Extends PQRI Reporting for Two Years and Provides a 2% Bonus Payment for Reporting
Summarizes the extension of a physician quality reporting program and related incentive reporting updates relevant to participating professionals.
What You Will Learn
- How 2008 Medicare legislation affected radiology-related physician reimbursement
- What the article says about geographic payment adjustments
- Which imaging services were tied to accreditation requirements
- How the article frames appropriateness criteria testing in medical imaging
- What changed in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative for eligible professionals
Who Should Read This
- Radiologists
- Radiology practice administrators
- Medical coders
- Reimbursement specialists
- Imaging facility compliance staff
- Quality reporting staff
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