2006 proposed fee schedule - American Society of Clinical Oncology

2006 proposed fee schedule - American Society of Clinical Oncology 2006 proposed fee schedule - American Society of Clinical Oncology

19.02.2013 Views

II. Provisions of the Proposed Rule This proposed rule would affect the regulations set forth at Part 405, Federal Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled; Part 410, Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Benefits; Part 411, Exclusions from Medicare and Limitations on Medicare Payment; Part 413, Principles of Reasonable Cost Reimbursement, Payment for End-Stage Renal Disease Services, Prospectively Determined Payment Rates for Skilled Nursing Facilities; 414, Payment for Part B Medical and Other Health Services; Part 426, Review of National Coverage Determinations and Local Coverage Determinations. A. Resource-Based Practice Expense (PE) RVUs [If you choose to comment on issues in this section, please include the caption “PRACTICE EXPENSE” at the beginning of your comments.] Based on section 1848(c)(1)(B) of the Act practice expenses are the portion of the resources used in furnishing the service that reflects the general categories of physician and practitioner expenses (such as office rent and wages of personnel, but excluding malpractice expenses). Section 121 of the Social Security Amendments of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-432), enacted on October 31, 1994, required us to develop a methodology for a resource-based system for determining PE RVUs for each physician‘s service. Up until this point, physicians’ practice expenses were based on 26

historical allowed charges. This legislation stated that the revised PE methodology must consider the staff, equipment, and supplies used in the provision of various medical and surgical services in various settings beginning in 1998. The Secretary has interpreted this to mean that Medicare payments for each service would be based on the relative PE resources typically involved with performing the service. The initial implementation of resource-based PE RVUs was delayed until January 1, 1999, by section 4505(a) of the BBA 1997. In addition, section 4505(b) of the BBA 1997 required the new payment methodology be phased-in over 4 years, effective for services furnished in CY 1999, and fully effective in CY 2002. The first step toward implementation called for by the statute was to adjust the PE values for certain services for CY 1998. Section 4505(d) of BBA 1997 required that, in developing the resource-based PE RVUs, the Secretary must: ● Use, to the maximum extent possible, generally accepted cost accounting principles that recognize all staff, equipment, supplies, and expenses, not solely those that can be linked to specific procedures. ● Develop a refinement method to be used during the transition. 27

historical allowed charges. This legislation stated that<br />

the revised PE methodology must consider the staff,<br />

equipment, and supplies used in the provision <strong>of</strong> various<br />

medical and surgical services in various settings beginning<br />

in 1998. The Secretary has interpreted this to mean that<br />

Medicare payments for each service would be based on the<br />

relative PE resources typically involved with performing the<br />

service.<br />

The initial implementation <strong>of</strong> resource-based PE RVUs<br />

was delayed until January 1, 1999, by section 4505(a) <strong>of</strong> the<br />

BBA 1997. In addition, section 4505(b) <strong>of</strong> the BBA 1997<br />

required the new payment methodology be phased-in over 4<br />

years, effective for services furnished in CY 1999, and<br />

fully effective in CY 2002. The first step toward<br />

implementation called for by the statute was to adjust the<br />

PE values for certain services for CY 1998. Section 4505(d)<br />

<strong>of</strong> BBA 1997 required that, in developing the resource-based<br />

PE RVUs, the Secretary must:<br />

● Use, to the maximum extent possible, generally<br />

accepted cost accounting principles that recognize all<br />

staff, equipment, supplies, and expenses, not solely those<br />

that can be linked to specific procedures.<br />

● Develop a refinement method to be used during the<br />

transition.<br />

27

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