2008 fee schedule: Ophthalmologists in for 11% cut

Why This Topic Matters

The proposed rule could materially affect Medicare reimbursement for ophthalmology and related services, so readers need to understand the areas of potential payment change and where public comment or legislative action may alter the outcome.

Article Sections

1. Medicare proposed fee schedule overview

   Summarizes the proposed 2008 physician fee schedule and its broader expected effect on Medicare payments across specialties. It also introduces the role of Congress and CMS in the final outcome.

2. Better pay for eye codes

   Covers proposed updates affecting ophthalmology examination services and the involvement of specialty societies, the RUC, and CMS. It presents the general context for changes to selected eye-related service valuations.

3. More imaging caps

   Discusses the proposed expansion of payment caps to ophthalmic imaging procedures under the hospital outpatient payment system. It identifies the policy area that would affect certain diagnostic services and equipment owners.

4. The downward march of PE values

   Explains the practice expense transition methodology described in the article and its expected effect on ophthalmology payments. It places the proposed changes in the context of the multi-year shift in valuation methods.

5. Physician fees for selected ophthalmology codes

   Provides a comparison table of selected ophthalmology procedure payments under the proposed schedule and prior-year amounts. It serves as a summary of the article’s example payment impacts.