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CMS-1403-FC 28
were resource-based, and the PE and malpractice RVUs were
based on average allowable charges.
The physician work RVUs established for the
implementation of the fee schedule in January 1992 were
developed with extensive input from the physician
community. A research team at the Harvard School of Public
Health developed the original physician work RVUs for most
codes in a cooperative agreement with the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS). In constructing the
code-specific vignettes for the original physician work
RVUs, Harvard worked with panels of experts, both inside
and outside the Federal government, and obtained input from
numerous physician specialty groups.
Section 1848(b)(2)(B) of the Act specifies that the
RVUs for anesthesia services are based on RVUs from a
uniform relative value guide. We established a separate
conversion factor (CF) for anesthesia services, and we
continue to utilize time units as a factor in determining
payment for these services. As a result, there is a
separate payment methodology for anesthesia services.
We establish physician work RVUs for new and revised
codes based on recommendations received from the American
Medical Association's (AMA) Specialty Society Relative
Value Update Committee (RUC).