Outpatient Facility Coding Alert - 2009 Issue 3
News You Can Use: Medicare Lowers Conversion Factor to $36.0666 for 2009
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Article Overview
This article reviews the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and summarizes how changes to payment methodology may affect different specialties and common office visit services. It also covers Medicare incentive opportunities tied to quality reporting and e-prescribing, plus a change to retrospective billing/credentialing timing. It is useful for physicians, billers, coders, and practice managers who need a high-level view of upcoming Medicare reimbursement and administrative changes.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps practices prepare for annual Medicare payment updates, identify broad reimbursement trends, and understand related reporting and enrollment changes that may affect revenue and compliance planning.
Article Sections
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Medicare fee schedule update and specialty impact
Overview of the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule update and the general effect on reimbursement across specialties. Includes discussion of budget neutrality and practice expense adjustments.
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Common procedure payment changes
Summarizes payment movement for commonly reported evaluation and management and procedure services under the updated fee schedule. Focuses on broad reimbursement changes for frequently used services.
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Incentives for quality reporting and e-prescribing
Covers Medicare bonus opportunities linked to quality reporting participation and e-prescribing adoption. Also notes reporting requirements at a general level.
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Credentialing and retrospective billing changes
Describes changes to Medicare enrollment timing and the period during which services may be billed before credentialing is complete. Addresses administrative implications for practices.
What You Will Learn
- How the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule affects overall reimbursement
- Which broad specialty groups may be helped or hurt by the update
- What types of Medicare incentive programs are discussed
- How the article frames e-prescribing and reporting requirements
- What administrative change is described for Medicare credentialing and billing timing
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- General surgery practices
- Medical coders
- Medical billers
- Practice managers
- Revenue cycle staff
Codes Discussed
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