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2010
The Society Comments on the 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (09/01/2010) — On August 24, the Society submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in response to the 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule, which updates Medicare payment policies for CY2011. Among the issues addressed in the comments are elimination of consultation services, rebasing of the Medicare Economic Index, Remote Cardiac Monitoring Services. Learn more »
Survey Results Show Elimination of Consultation Codes Negatively Affects Delivery of Physician Services (07/21/2010) — The elimination of consultation codes (except for telehealth services) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has had a negative impact on physician efforts to improve care coordination and reduced the treatment options available to Medicare patients, according to results of a survey developed by the American Medical Association in partnership with the Society and 16 other medical specialty societies. Learn more »
2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (06/30/2010) — On June 25, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that would implement key provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 to expand preventive services for Medicare beneficiaries, improve payments for primary care services and promote access to health care services in rural areas. The proposed rule would also update other policies, as well as payment rates for physician services and for other providers and suppliers who are paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) during calendar year 2011. Learn more »
Elimination of Consultation Services: Your Input is Needed (04/20/2010) — The Heart Rhythm Society is partnering with the American Medical Association and 16 other medical specialty societies to work towards modifying the CMS Consultation Services Payment Policy. To gather data for this effort, a short survey has been designed that should take only 10 or 15 minutes to complete. Your participation in this important survey will help us to understand and quantify how this policy is affecting electrophysiologists. Learn more and take survey »
Survey: Consultation Claim Denials by Medicare (02/26/2010) — With the elimination of the consultations services codes 99241-99245 and 99251-99255, clinicians must now bill consultation services using Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes for Medicare claims. In the past, some local Medicare carriers have denied claims, citing duplicate billing, when a cardiologist and an EP from the same group practice billed consultation services. If you are still experiencing this problem with the implementation of the new structure using the E&M codes, please take our quick survey to help the Society understand how these changes are affecting your practice. Learn more »
Medicare Discontinues Use of Consultation Codes (01/29/2010) — As of January 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) discontinued the use of consultation service codes 99241-99245 and 99251-99255 performed in the office and hospital setting. These services now must be billed differently. The Society has developed a list of answers to questions regarding the policy change. Learn more »
Lawsuit on Practice Expense Cut Dismissed (01/20/2010) — A lawsuit filed against the Department of Health and Human Services and Secretary Kathleen Sebelius seeking to reverse the practice expense cuts that went into effect on January 1, 2010 was dismissed on January 12, with the judge ruling that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida had no jurisdiction over the issue. Learn more »
Society Comments on the 2010 MPFS Final Rule (01/05/2010) — The Society recently issued comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in response to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule for calendar year 2010, focusing on two critical issues: the elimination of the consultation codes and the use of the American Medical Association Physician Practice Information Survey data to calculate practice expense inputs. Learn more »
2009
PPAC Recommends CMS Delay Policy to Eliminate Consultation Services (12/22/2009) — The Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (PPAC) held its quarterly meeting in Washington, DC to discuss final provisions of the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including the Physician Resource Use Measurement and Reporting Program and updates to the PQRI and e-Prescribing incentive programs. Learn more »
MEDPAC Considers 1.0 Percent Update for Physician Services and Full Market Basket Update for Hospitals in 2011 (12/22/2009) — The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), which advises Congress on physician payment rates and other issues, met to assess the adequacy of Medicare payments for physician and hospital services in 2011. The Commission is considering draft recommendations to Congress that would provide a 1.0 percent increase in physician reimbursement and a full market basket update for both inpatient and outpatient hospitals. Learn more »
Legislation Introduced to Reverse Practice Expense Cuts (12/22/2009) — Representative Charles Gonzalez (D-TX) introduced H.R. 4371, legislation to reverse the practice expense cuts scheduled to take effect January 1, 2010. This legislation, cosponsored by 55 House Members, requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to use the 2009 Medicare Practice Expense Relative Value Units for certain cardiology services. Learn more »
The Society Meets with CMS on Medicare Consultation Services (12/16/2009) — On Wednesday December 16, the Society’s leadership met with officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to discuss our concerns with the elimination of Medicare consultation codes scheduled to take effect on January 1st, 2010. Learn more »
Heart Rhythm Professionals Face Major Cuts Under Medicare Final Rule for 2010 (11/04/2009) — The President of the Heart Rhythm Society, Richard L. Page, MD, FHRS, sent a letter to all United States-based members detailing the policy changes that will significantly reduce payments for heart rhythm services, the Society's plan to advocate against the use of the American Medical Association’s Physician Practice Information Survey data and how Society members can get involved. Read letter »
2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule- Cardiology Practice Expenses Cuts phased-in over four years (11/04/2009) — On October 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule that will revise the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for calendar year 2010. In the final rule, the practice expense cuts to cardiology services will be phased-in over the next four years. The Heart Rhythm Society is working along with the other cardiovascular medical societies to respond to the cuts. Learn more »
Society Comments on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule for Calendar Year 2010 (09/02/2009) — On August 31, the Heart Rhythm Society submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The proposed rule addressed numerous complex changes and refinements. Among the issues, concerns were raised regarding CMS’ proposals to use the American Medical Association Physician Practice Information Survey data to calculate practice expense inputs and eliminate consultation codes. Learn more »
Ask Congress to Help Stop Proposed Cuts to EP Services (05/08/2009) — Representatives Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Charles Gonzalez (D-TX) are currently circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter, which asks Members of Congress to support their outreach to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius. In the letter, they express their serious concerns about payment cuts to cardiology and oncology services and ask her to delay these cuts until further analysis is undertaken. Contact your representative asking him or her to sign on to the Gonzalez-Rogers letter to Secretary Sebelius. Learn more »
Society Works to Prevent Practice Expense Cuts (07/29/2009) — On July 28 the Society and other cardiovascular medical associations met with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officials to discuss its decision to use data from the American Medical Association's Physician Practice Information survey to calculate practice expense RVUs for cardiology services in 2010. Learn more »
CMS Releases Proposed MPFS Rule for 2010 (07/07/2009) — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule on July 1 that would revise the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in 2010. CMS is proposing a number of changes which would result in an 11 percent decrease for cardiology services. Learn more »
MedPAC Approves Recommendations for Payment Updates in 2010 (01/17/2009) — The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held a two-day meeting January 8-9, 2009 in Washington, DC to finalize its recommendations to Congress for updating physician, hospital and ambulatory surgical center payments (ASCs) for 2010. Payment recommendations adopted by MedPAC will be formally presented in a report to Congress in March. Learn more »
Society Submits Comments to CMS on the 2009 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (1/14/2009) — On December 22, 2008 the Heart Rhythm Society submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. In the Society’s comments to CMS, three areas of concern related to the new cardiac monitoring device codes were addressed: reimbursement for programming evaluation of a dual lead ICD system (93283); practice expense equipment cost for codes 93279 through 93292; and practice expense equipment cost for transtelephonic rhythm strip pacemaker evaluation (93293). Learn more »
2008
MedPAC’s Draft Recommendations for Hospital And Physicians FY 2010 Payments (12/17/2008) — The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) met December 4-5 to discuss recommendations for hospital and physician services for fiscal year (FY) 2010. As a starting point, the initial draft recommendations call for a full “market basket” payment update for hospitals services in 2010. The Commission is scheduled to vote on draft recommendations at the January 2009 meeting. Learn more »
2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (11/05/2008)— The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule for calendar year (CY) 2009 on October 30. Among the highlights of the final rule are decisions on payment rates and changes, as well as information on 2009 PQRI. The rates and policies adopted in the final rule will apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2009. Learn more »
Heart Rhythm Society Responds to 2009 Rules (09/10/2008) — On August 29 the Heart Rhythm Society submitted comments to CMS in response to the "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2009; and Revisions to the Amendment of the E-Prescribing Exemption for Computer Generated Facsimile Transmissions; Proposed Rule" published in the Federal Register on July 7, 2008. In addition, the Society submitted a second comment letter on September 3 to CMS regarding its "Proposed Changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and CY 2009 Payment Rates; Proposed Changes to the Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System and CY 2009 Payment Rates," which was published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2008. Learn more and access the Society's comments on these proposed rules »
Congress Overrides Presidential Veto Of Medicare Legislation — Fee Schedule Rates Stabilized, Medicare Will Resume Claims Processing (07/16/2008) — On July 15, Congress overwhelmingly overrode President Bush's veto of HR 6331, the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act. The bill reverses the 10.6 percent Medicare physician payment cut that went into effect July 1 and will extend the .5 percent update to physician payments through the end of 2008 and provide a 1.1 percent update for 2009. A number of other provisions such as an extension of PQRI and bonuses for e-prescribing are also included. This temporary fix comes after months of Society and other medical association staff lobbying and Society member grassroots communications. Learn more »
2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Highlights (07/02/2008) — On June 30, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule for calendar year (CY) 2009 for public display. The Society has evaluated the impact on EP services. Learn more »
10.6% Pay Cut Effective July 1st – CMS to Hold Claims for 10 Business Days (07/02/2008) — Medicare’s current fee schedule calls for a 10.6% cut in physician reimbursement effective July 1. CMS is working with Congress, health care providers, and the beneficiary community to avoid disruption in the delivery of health care services and payment of claims paid under the Medicare physician fee schedule, beginning July 1. Learn more about the immediate impact on your billing processes »
Washington Report: Congress Fails to Pass Legislation Stopping 10.6% Medicare Physician Payment Cut Going Into Effect July 1 (06/27/2008) — Congress failed to pass legislation which would have halted the 10.6% Medicare Physician payment cut. Therefore, the cut will be going forward as scheduled and will affect services rendered on or after July 1, 2008. Physicians should continue putting pressure on their legislators to rectify this unacceptable situation. Learn more »
MedPAC Review of CMS' Estimate of the Physician Update for 2009 (04/24/2008) —On April 10, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) reviewed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) preliminary estimate of the physician update for 2009. In calculating the update, CMS projects the update for 2009 to be -5.4%. To calculate the update, CMS used estimates that are consistent with recent trends. In addition, the MedPAC continued last month's discussion on the feasibility of bundled payments around a hospitalization and supported a revised package of draft recommendations for hospitals and physician services over an episode of care for select conditions. Learn more »
2007
2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) (11/02/2007) — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its final rule for the 2008 MPFS. Learn more »
The Society Comments on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule for 2008 (08/31/2007) — The Society sent a letter to Herb Kuhm, Action Deputy Administrator of CMS regarding the Proposed MPFS for 2008. View the letter »
Summary of 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (07/09/2007) — On July 2, 2007, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that would revise the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MFPS) for calendar year 2008. Learn more »
2006
Congress Passes Legislation Averting 5% Medicare Physician Payment Cut (12/11/2006) — Congress has passed legislation that stops the 5% Medicare physician payment cut, scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2007. Learn more »
