Fee schedule: Ophthalmologists facing 8% Medicare cut in 2007

Why This Topic Matters

The article helps readers understand major Medicare payment changes that could affect ophthalmology reimbursement and coding strategy for the upcoming year. It also highlights which service categories saw fee movement and how CMS policy updates may influence practice billing considerations.

Article Sections

1. Medicare physician fee schedule overview

   Summarizes the Medicare fee schedule update and the general payment environment affecting physician reimbursement. It introduces the scope of the changes discussed in the article.

2. Impact on ophthalmology and related services

   Discusses how the fee schedule changes affect ophthalmology practices and compares them with other specialties. It also notes specific service categories that experienced notable movement under the update.

3. E/M and ophthalmic exam code changes

   Explains the article’s discussion of evaluation and management services and ophthalmic examination coding under the updated fee schedule. It covers the broader policy shift affecting these service categories.

4. Lobbying Congress

   Addresses the legislative context surrounding the Medicare update and the possibility of congressional action. It places the fee schedule changes in a policy and advocacy context.

5. Top Ophthalmology Codes: 2006 vs. 2007

   Presents a fee comparison table for commonly used ophthalmology services under the 2006 and 2007 fee schedules. It shows the mix of office, facility, and consultation services included in the article’s analysis.