CMS announces final 2009 Physician Fee Schedule

Why This Topic Matters

The 2009 fee schedule can affect reimbursement across specialties, with some services increasing and others decreasing depending on setting and service mix. It also includes policy changes that may affect enrollment workflows and billing timeframes.

Article Sections

1. Overview of the final 2009 Physician Fee Schedule

   Summarizes the final Medicare physician fee schedule and the broad payment update affecting multiple specialties. It introduces the general reimbursement context and the role of CMS publication timing.

2. MIPPA and conversion factor changes

   Describes the broader payment methodology update and its effect on conversion factors and payment distribution. It discusses how the change affects physicians and different service mixes at a high level.

3. Anesthesia fees increase in 2009

   Reviews the anesthesia-specific payment update and the separate conversion factor used for these services. It also notes the inclusion of new anesthesia code valuation information announced in the fee schedule.

4. Pain management fees trend downward

   Summarizes the article’s discussion of pain management reimbursement trends across different settings of care. It covers office and facility payment direction for certain pain-related services.

5. Discussion of moderate sedation

   Covers CMS’s discussion of moderate sedation services and stakeholder comments related to proposed valuation updates. It outlines the broader policy review surrounding these services.

6. Changes to enrollment and billing

   Explains new CMS enrollment and billing timing rules affecting updates, corrections, and retroactive claims submission. It highlights the operational impact for providers and Medicare billing staff.