decisionhealth Newsletters, Part B News - 2007 Issue 11 (November)
Little good news in fee schedule; action from Congress expected
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Article Overview
This article reviews major provisions in the 2008 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule and explains why the changes matter to physicians, practices, and other Medicare providers. It covers payment updates, RVU adjustments, telehealth, imaging, laboratory, self-referral, enrollment, and other CMS policy areas that affect Medicare reimbursement and operations. The article is useful for billing staff, compliance teams, physician groups, and specialty practices trying to understand the scope of the final rule and the areas most likely to affect Medicare participation.
Why This Topic Matters
The rule touches multiple high-impact reimbursement and compliance areas, including payment levels, service coverage, and practice operations. Providers need a broad view of the changes to anticipate financial impact and adjust internal workflows.
Article Sections
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Payment outlook and congressional action
Discussion of the overall payment environment for 2008, including the fee schedule update and the possibility of legislative intervention. Also covers survey responses about expected Medicare payment changes.
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Self-referral rules and anti-markup provisions
Summary of CMS changes to self-referral policy in the final rule, including delayed proposals and finalized provisions affecting certain billing arrangements. Addresses general operational implications for practices and diagnostic services.
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Key provisions in the 2008 final physician fee schedule
An itemized review of selected CMS policy updates across multiple service categories, including malpractice, telehealth, surgery, imaging, lab testing, IDTF requirements, enrollment, and other fee schedule topics.
What You Will Learn
- How the 2008 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule is structured at a high level
- Which broad service areas were affected by CMS policy revisions
- What categories of changes were made to payment, coverage, and reporting requirements
- How the article frames the operational impact for physician practices and specialty providers
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Practice managers
- Compliance professionals
- Revenue cycle teams
- Specialty group practices
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
Modifiers Discussed
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