2006 proposed fee schedule - American Society of Clinical Oncology

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Based on the projected utilization of these screening
services and related medically necessary follow-up tests and
treatment that may be required for the additional
beneficiaries screened, we estimate that this expanded
benefit will result in an increase in Medicare payments to
ophthalmologists or optometrists who will provide these
screening tests and related follow-up tests and treatment.
However, this is not expected to have a significant cost
impact on the Medicare program.
K. Physician Referral for Nuclear Medicine Services
This proposal, which is discussed in section II.P. of
this proposed rule, would primarily affect physicians and
health care entities that furnish items and services to
Medicare beneficiaries. We have attempted to minimize its
effect by interpreting the law in a practical and realistic
manner. We are unable to quantify the number of physicians
who have either an ownership or an investment interest in
entities that furnish nuclear medicine services and/or
supplies. Even if we assume that a substantial number of
physicians have ownership or investment interests in these
types of entities, we believe that, in general, the economic
impact on these physicians would not necessarily be
substantial, for the reasons stated below.
Physician owners/investors of entities that furnish
nuclear medicine services and supplies in a manner that