Physician_Fee_Schedule_Rules / 1998

Why This Topic Matters

The rule affects how Medicare Part B payment policy was updated for 1998 and how multiple physician-fee-schedule-related issues were operationalized. It also provides context for carriers, practitioners, and coders working with Medicare coverage, supervision, and fee schedule administration.

Article Sections

1. Background

   Introduces the physician fee schedule framework, statutory context, and prior rulemaking history. It also outlines how relative values and geographic adjustments fit into Medicare payment policy.

2. Specific Proposals for Calendar Year 1998

   Summarizes the main policy areas addressed for 1998, including practice expense methodology, geographic adjustments, clinical psychologist services, diagnostic tests, supplier payment issues, and selected screening and consultation topics.

3. Implementation of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997

   Describes how provisions from the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 are incorporated into the rule. The discussion includes several coverage and payment implementation areas affecting Medicare Part B.

4. Refinement of Relative Value Units for Calendar Year 1998 and Responses to Public Comments on Interim Relative Value Units for 1997

   Addresses review and refinement of relative value units, the handling of interim values, and responses to comments on prior year values. It also discusses development of work relative value units for new and revised codes.

5. Provisions of the Final Rule

   Presents the final regulatory actions adopted in the rule. This section serves as a consolidated statement of the rule’s operative policy changes.

6. Collection of Information Requirements

   Covers information collection considerations associated with the rule. It addresses administrative requirements tied to implementation.

7. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking and Response to Comments

   Discusses procedural matters involving waiver of additional proposed rulemaking and summarizes the agency’s response to comments. It provides rulemaking context rather than clinical guidance.

8. Regulatory Impact Analysis

   Reviews the expected policy and budget impacts of the rule. This section includes regulatory analysis across multiple affected payment and coverage areas.

9. Addenda A through G

   Provides supporting addenda referenced throughout the rule, including relative value information, codes with interim values, geographic practice cost indices, and county locality listings.

10. Acronyms

    Lists abbreviations used in the rule and their corresponding terms. This section is reference material for navigating the document.

11. Physician supervision of diagnostic procedures

    Sets out the physician supervision framework for diagnostic services and explains how diagnostic procedures are grouped for payment administration. It includes a large reference listing of procedure codes and supervision indicators.