Medicare keeps RVUs in 2007 for 3 key ortho surgery codes

Why This Topic Matters

Orthopedic groups rely on Medicare fee updates to anticipate revenue changes, monitor high-volume services, and plan for the impact of RVU and imaging-payment policy changes. The article helps readers identify which broad service categories were affected in 2007 and which specialty organizations were involved in advocating on behalf of the affected codes.

Article Sections

1. Medicare fee schedule overview

   Summarizes the 2007 Medicare physician fee schedule context, including conversion factor changes and overall specialty-wide payment effects. It also introduces the orthopedic services most affected by the update.

2. Key orthopedic surgery RVU decision

   Discusses the CMS decision on maintaining current work values for three major orthopedic surgery services and the advocacy response from specialty organizations. The section explains the broader significance of the RVU action for orthopedics.

3. Selected fee changes and policy updates

   Covers additional Medicare fee schedule developments affecting orthopedic practice, including changes tied to implants, radiology, spinal injections, supplies, E/M services, and imaging payment policies. It also notes broader payment methodology updates referenced by CMS.

4. New ortho code fees

   Presents a table of newly referenced orthopedic procedure codes and their projected Medicare fee values for 2007. This section is a code-focused fee summary for newly listed services.

5. OPPS-capped orthopedic codes

   Lists imaging-related orthopedic codes affected by the outpatient payment cap and compares physician fee schedule amounts with hospital outpatient rates. The section highlights technical component billing impacts and usage context.

6. 2007 orthopedic code winners & losers

   Provides a comparative summary of high-volume orthopedic codes that increased or decreased in Medicare payment for 2007. It is organized as a broad winners-and-losers fee overview.