Proposed 2006 fee sked: You will no longer be able to refer patients for nuclear scans in facilities you or your practice own

Why This Topic Matters

Practices that furnish or refer nuclear imaging services need to understand proposed Medicare policy changes that could affect referral patterns, ownership arrangements, and reimbursement. The article helps readers evaluate whether the proposed fee schedule is relevant to their specialty and billing workflow.

Article Sections

1. Proposed self-referral restrictions and nuclear imaging

   Discusses the proposed Medicare policy change related to nuclear medicine and physician self-referral. It outlines the broader compliance and ownership implications for cardiology practices.

2. Options for practices under the proposal

   Summarizes the general response paths described for affected practices if the proposal is finalized. The section focuses on operational choices and practice-structure considerations.

3. Other proposed payment changes affecting cardiology

   Covers additional Medicare payment changes discussed for cardiology services, including trends affecting imaging and EKG reimbursement. It also notes policy changes related to multiple procedures and contrast material billing.

4. Medicare fees and cardiology utilization of select nuclear services

   Presents a data table showing utilization and fee trends for selected services across multiple years. This section provides context for the proposed payment changes without reproducing the underlying analysis.