Part B Payment: Proposed 2011 Fee Schedule Offers Vast Benefits for Primary Care Practices

Why This Topic Matters

The proposal has potential implications for Medicare reimbursement, preventive care billing, and primary care practice revenue. Readers can use it to understand which parts of the fee schedule are changing and which professional groups may be affected.

Article Sections

1. CMS proposed 2011 Physician Fee Schedule

   An overview of the proposed Medicare payment rule and the context for the year ahead. The section introduces the major policy themes addressed in the article.

2. Primary care payment provisions

   A discussion of proposed payment support for qualifying primary care practitioners and the general eligibility framework. It also places the change in the broader context of federal health reform.

3. Annual wellness visit proposals

   Coverage of the planned preventive visit concepts for Medicare beneficiaries and the creation of new HCPCS reporting options. The section explains how these proposals relate to office visit payment comparisons and preventive service policy.

4. Conversion factor outlook

   A review of the proposed fee schedule’s overall payment update environment, including expected changes to the Medicare conversion factor. The section highlights the significance of ongoing legislative uncertainty for practices.