Proposed Medicare fee schedule: Big cuts may be in store for 2010

Why This Topic Matters

The proposed fee schedule could significantly affect physician reimbursement, specialty revenue patterns, and billing workflows. It is relevant for organizations that code Medicare professional services or manage Medicare payment policy changes.

Article Sections

1. Budget neutrality and the CF

   Introduces the Medicare payment update framework and the proposed conversion factor change. It places the discussion in the context of annual physician fee schedule updates and budget neutrality.

2. Practice expense reductions

   Summarizes proposed practice expense relative value unit changes across multiple specialties. It highlights broad areas of increase, decrease, and minimal change in the fee schedule proposal.

3. Elimination of consultation codes

   Describes the proposed policy change affecting consultation-related reimbursement and the shift toward existing evaluation and management services. It also outlines the policy rationale CMS gives for the proposal.

4. Coders react to proposed consult change

   Presents reactions from coding and practice management professionals to the consultation-code proposal. It reflects differing operational and financial concerns among specialties and billing staff.