Brace for a new round of possible imaging fee cuts

Why This Topic Matters

The proposed changes could significantly alter payment for commonly billed cardiology and imaging services, especially where technical components and outpatient caps interact. Practices that bill these services need to monitor the CMS proposal process and understand the broad categories of services affected.

Article Sections

1. Imaging fee cuts and policy changes

   Overview of proposed Medicare payment changes affecting imaging technical components and related fee adjustments. The section discusses broad policy shifts that could influence reimbursement for imaging services.

2. Example of what to expect

   A general example showing how proposed payment changes may affect a representative imaging service across its components. The section illustrates the types of reductions being discussed without serving as coding guidance.

3. Don’t forget the RVU proposals

   Discussion of separate physician fee schedule proposals related to work and practice expense RVUs. The section places the imaging payment changes in the broader context of CMS reimbursement updates.

4. Proposed fee schedule resources

   Administrative information about CMS comment periods and public rule resources. This section points readers to the federal rulemaking process and official documents.

5. Impact of 2007 fee cuts on key cardio codes

   A table summarizing proposed fee impacts for selected cardiology procedures and imaging services. The section presents comparative payment information for several commonly used services.