Fee schedule: Pay fix doesn’t stop steep cuts to epidurals, ultrasound guidance

Why This Topic Matters

Readers in anesthesia and pain management need to understand how fee schedule updates can alter reimbursement for high-volume services and related guidance. The article helps identify which commonly reported services were affected and places those changes in the context of Medicare payment policy and utilization trends.

Article Sections

1. Medicare fee schedule update and payment impact

   Overview of the 2014 Medicare physician fee schedule update and its effect on payments for anesthesia and pain management services. The section frames the broader reimbursement context and mentions conversion factor changes.

2. Relative value unit changes and utilization context

   Discussion of relative value unit revisions for selected services and the utilization trends that influenced the payment environment. The section also references CMS data sources and analysis related to the specialties involved.

3. Medicare fee calculations for commonly performed services

   A comparative table of selected services showing payment changes between 2013 and 2014. The section presents the services in a fee schedule format without expanding on coding or billing instructions.