Proposed 2009 fee schedule would target high cost, high volume codes

Why This Topic Matters

The proposal could affect payment levels, billing requirements, and compliance obligations across several high-volume services and practice settings. Readers can use the article to assess whether the proposed changes may impact their specialty, operational workflows, or comment strategy before the rule is finalized.

Article Sections

1. Overview of proposed Medicare fee schedule changes

   Introduces the proposed 2009 Medicare physician fee schedule and summarizes the broader payment environment affecting physician reimbursement.

2. Cardiology and nuclear medicine payment impacts

   Discusses proposed relative value unit changes affecting selected high-volume cardiology and nuclear medicine services, including echocardiography, perfusion imaging, cath lab services, and monitoring studies.

3. Telehealth policy changes

   Summarizes proposed telehealth-related billing changes, including the creation of new billing options and the general scope of services addressed by CMS.

4. Diagnostic testing and enrollment standards

   Covers proposed standards affecting physicians and nonphysician practitioners who furnish diagnostic testing and the relationship to IDTF-type requirements.

5. Potentially misvalued services and high-cost supplies

   Explains CMS’s effort to identify services and supplies for review, including pricing updates for higher-cost supply items and requests for supporting documentation.

6. Quality reporting and implementation timeline

   Notes proposed changes to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative and provides the rulemaking timeline for comments, final publication, and the effective date.