Physician fee schedule: Con-version factor rises 4.5% for 2001 and many changes that were in the proposed rule make it into the final version

Why This Topic Matters

Annual fee schedule updates affect Medicare reimbursement, budgeting, and payment expectations across a wide range of services. Understanding the general drivers of the update helps billing and coding teams interpret payment changes for the new year.

Article Sections

1. Medicare physician fee schedule update for 2001

   Overview of the 2001 fee schedule update and the general factors affecting the annual conversion factor. The section frames the broader payment environment and timing of the update.

2. How the conversion factor is affected

   Discussion of the budget and policy elements that influence the annual calculation. The section covers the main components used in the update process at a broad level.

3. 2000 vs. 2001 Medicare allowables for selected codes

   A comparison table showing selected Medicare payment amounts for commonly billed services across two years and two setting types. The section illustrates the scale of the annual changes without providing coding guidance.

4. How HCFA calculated the 2001 CF

   A formula-style summary of the calculation inputs used to arrive at the updated conversion factor. The section presents the overall components involved in the calculation.