<p>Info from APTA.</p><p>Jill Cooper, IPTA</p><p>CMS Proposes Fee Schedule
Update<br /><br />On July 2, CMS proposed revisions to payment rates and
policies under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) (for a summary, visit
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=2239&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date).
The proposed rule
(http://www.cms.hhs.gov/physicianfeesched/downloads/CMS-1385-P.pdf?agree=yes&next=Accept)
includes an estimated 9.9% reduction in Medicare payments as a result of the
Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. Over the past 5 years, however,
Congress has stepped in to prevent cuts. Comments in response to the proposed
rule will be due to CMS by August 31. A final rule will be published around
November 1 and will take effect January 1. APTA will submit comments in
response to the proposal.<br /><br />
</p>