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CMS-1403-FC
of between 21 and 44 percent. Given the expected
interaction between the MPPR policy and the further imaging
payment reductions mandated by section 5102(b) of the DRA,
along with the information we received from the ACR on the
MPPR as it applies to common combinations of imaging
services, we decided it was prudent to maintain the MPPR at
its current 25 percent level while we continue to examine
the appropriate payment levels. Therefore, we have
maintained the MPPR at the 25 percent level.
In establishing the MPPR, we elected to use a single
reduction percentage for all code pairs. We adopted a
percentage reduction that is considerably lower than the
range supported by our prior analysis, and slightly higher
than the lowest percentage supported by ACR’s analysis. We
do not believe it is necessary to conduct another analysis
for the additional codes because we adopted a conservative
reduction percentage and are continuing use of a single
reduction percentage for all code pairs. We believe the
payment reduction policy, described above, represents an
appropriate reduction for the typical delivery of multiple
imaging services furnished in the same session.
Furthermore, in establishing the MPPR, we limited it
to codes in the same family, that is, contiguous areas of
the body that are commonly furnished on the same patient,
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