Self-referral, pay rate hot topics in fee schedule comments

Why This Topic Matters

It helps readers understand which Medicare policy proposals were drawing the most attention from professional groups and why those proposals mattered to reimbursement and compliance planning.

Article Sections

1. Proposed 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

   Introduces the proposed rule and the broad payment and geographic adjustment changes discussed in the comments.

2. Self-referral concerns and professional society responses

   Summarizes reactions from physician groups and specialty organizations to CMS self-referral and Stark-related proposals.

3. Payment cuts and specialty reactions

   Reviews comments addressing the overall payment reduction and its potential effect on physician practices and Medicare participation.

4. Anesthesia payment proposal

   Covers the response to CMS’s anesthesia payment proposal and the comments submitted by multiple organizations and practitioners.

5. Doppler bundling issue

   Describes comments related to CMS’s proposal affecting echocardiography payment policy and related technical considerations.

6. Final rule timing

   Notes the expected release date of the final rule and its scheduled effective date.