decisionhealth Newsletters, Coder Pink Sheets - 2011 Issue 7 (July)
Proposed 2012 physician fee schedule would cut your pay by 30%
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Article Overview
This article reviews CMS’s proposed 2012 Medicare physician fee schedule and explains why it is important for physicians, group practices, and other Medicare providers. It covers the broad payment outlook, expected RVU and conversion factor impacts, proposed changes affecting imaging interpretation, quality reporting, group reporting, and telehealth, and notes the timeline for comments and final rule issuance. The piece is useful for readers who need to understand which specialties and practice areas could be most affected by the proposal.
Why This Topic Matters
The proposal could affect Medicare physician reimbursement, specialty-specific payment levels, reporting workflows, and telehealth coverage. Practices use this kind of summary to anticipate operational and financial changes before the final rule takes effect.
Article Sections
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Deep cuts ahead
Summarizes the proposed Medicare payment update, the timing of the rulemaking process, and the general effect on physician reimbursement. It also notes the broad financial impact across common office, hospital, and surgical services.
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Imaging interpretation could take a hit
Describes proposed policy changes affecting interpretation of advanced imaging services and explains that the proposal would affect certain specialties more than others. It also places the change in the context of Medicare budget neutrality.
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Here are some additional changes CMS is proposing for next year
Introduces additional proposal areas involving quality reporting, group reporting, and telehealth. The section highlights broader operational changes CMS is considering for 2012.
What You Will Learn
- How CMS framed the proposed 2012 Medicare physician fee schedule
- Which broad categories of physician payment and reporting changes were included
- What areas of Medicare policy were proposed for imaging, quality reporting, and telehealth
- Which specialty groups were discussed as potentially affected by the proposal
- How the rulemaking timeline and comment period were presented
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Medical group administrators
- Medical coders
- Revenue cycle professionals
- Compliance staff
- Healthcare consultants
Codes Discussed
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