Medicare program; fee schedule for physicians' services for calendar year 1993--HCFA. Correction of final notice with comment period

This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the final notice with comment period published in the Federal Register on November 25, 1992 (57 FR 55914) entitled "Medicare Program; Fee Schedule for Physicians' Services for Calendar Year 1993."     

Physician performance standard rates of increase for federal fiscal year 1993 and physician fee schedule update for calendar year 1993--HCFA. Final notice with comment period

This notice announces the calendar year (CY) 1993 updates to the Medicare physician fee schedule and the Federal fiscal year (FY) 1993 performance standard rates of increase for expenditures and volume of physician services under the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) program as required by sections 1848(d) and (f), respectively, of the Social Security Act. It also sets forth an "initial" procedure-specific list of surgical and nonsurgical services to be used in applying the CY 1993 updates. These surgical and nonsurgical designations are subject to public comment. The physician performance standard rates of increase for Federal FY 1993 are 10.0 percent for all physician services, 8.4 percent for surgical services, and 10.8 percent for nonsurgical services. The fee schedule update for CY 1993 is 3.1 percent for surgical services and 0.8 percent for nonsurgical services.     

Medicare program; physician fee schedule conversion factor for calendar year 1998 and sustainable growth rate for fiscal year 1998--HCFA. Final notice

This final notice announces the calendar year 1998 Medicare physician fee schedule conversion factor and the fiscal year 1998 sustainable growth rate for expenditures for physicians' services under the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) program as required by sections 1846(d) and (f), respectively, of the Social Security Act. The 1998 Medicare physician fee schedule conversion factor is $36,6873. The sustainable growth rate for fiscal year 1998 is 1.5 percent.     

Medicare program; model fee schedule for physicians' services--HCFA. Notice with comment period

This notice announces and invites comments on a model fee schedule for physicians' services that is required by section 6102 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989. The model fee schedule provides very preliminary estimates for some, but not all, services to illustrate the effects of the Medicare physician payment fee schedule that will begin to take effect in January 1992. In accordance with section 6102(f)(11), we are making the model fee schedule available to the public through publication of this notice. Any comments received from the public will be considered carefully, but not specifically addressed in a subsequent proposed rule.     

Medicare program; fee schedule for physicians' services--HCFA. Final rule

This final rule sets forth a fee schedule for payment for physicians' services beginning January 1, 1992. Establishment of this fee schedule is required by section 6102(a) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, as amended by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. This final rule explains which services will be included in the fee schedule and sets forth the formula for computing payment amounts. Application of transition rules during 1992 through 1995 is also described, as well as other adjustments to fee schedule payment amounts.     

Medicare program; revisions to payment policies under the physician fee schedule for calendar year 2004. Final rule with comment period

This final rule will refine the resource-based practice expense relative value units (RVUs) and make other changes to Medicare Part B payment policy. The policy changes concern: Medicare Economic Index, practice expense for professional component services, definition of diabetes for diabetes self-management training, supplemental survey data for practice expense, geographic practice cost indices, and several coding issues. In addition, this rule updates the codes subject to the physician self-referral prohibition. We also make revisions to the sustainable growth rate and the anesthesia conversion factor. These changes will ensure that our payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services. We are also finalizing the calendar year (CY) 2003 interim RVUs and are issuing interim RVUs for new and revised procedure codes for CY 2004. As required by the statute, we are announcing that the physician fee schedule update for CY 2004 is -4.5 percent, the initial estimate of the sustainable growth rate for CY 2004 is 7.4 percent, and the conversion factor for CY 2004 is $35.1339. We published a proposed rule (68 FR 50428) in the Federal Register on Part B drug payment reform on August 20, 2003. This proposed rule would also make changes to Medicare payment for furnishing or administering certain drugs and biologicals. We have not finalized these proposals to take into account that the Congress is considering legislation that would address these issues. We will continue to monitor legislative activity that would reform the Medicare Part B drug payment system. If legislation is not enacted soon on this issue, we remain committed to completing the regulatory process.     

Medicare program; physician fee schedule update for calendar year 2003. Final rule

This final rule revises the estimates used to establish the sustainable growth rates (SGRs) for fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for the purposes of determining future updates to the physician fee schedule and announces a 1.6 percent increase in the calendar year (CY) 2003 physician fee schedule conversion factor (CF) for March 1 to December 31, 2003. The physician fee schedule CF from March 1 to December 31, 2003, will be $36.7856. The anesthesia CF for this period will be $17.05. Any information contained in this final rule related to the CY 2003 physician or anesthesia CFs takes the place of the information contained in the December 31, 2002, final rule. All other provisions of the December 31, 2002, final rule are unchanged by this final rule.     

Medicare program; physician fee schedule update for calendar year 1996 and physician volume performance standard rates of increase for federal fiscal year 1996--HCFA. Final notice

This final notice announces the calendar year 1996 updates to the Medicare physician fee schedule and the Federal fiscal year 1996 volume performance standard rates of increase for expenditures for physicians' services under the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) program as required by sections 1848 (d) and (f), respectively, of the Social Security Act. The fee schedule update for calendar year 1996 is 3.8 percent for surgical services, -2.3 percent for primary care services, and 0.4 percent for other nonsurgical services. While it does not affect payment for any particular service, there was a 0.8 percent increase in the update for all physicians' services for 1996. The physician volume performance standard rates of increase for Federal fiscal year 1996 are -0.5 percent for surgical services, 9.3 percent for primary care services, 0.6 percent for other nonsurgical services, and a weighted average of 1.8 percent for all physicians' services. In our July 26, 1995 proposed rule concerning revisions to payment policies under the Medicare physician fee schedule for calendar year 1996, we proposed using category-specific volume and intensity growth allowances in calculating the default Medicare Volume Performance Standard (MVPS). We received 20 comments on this proposal. Since this proposal is related to the MVPS and this notice deals with MVPS issues, we are responding to those comments in this notice instead of in the final rule for the fee schedule entitled "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies and Adjustments to the Relative Value Units Under the Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 1996" published elsewhere in this Federal Register issue.     

Physician performance standard rates of increase for federal fiscal year 1994 and physician fee schedule update for calendar year 1994--HCFA. Final notice with comment period

This notice announces the calendar year (CY) 1994 updates to the Medicare physician fee schedule and the Federal fiscal year (FY) 1994 performance standard rates of increase for expenditures and volume of physicians' services under the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) program as required by sections 1848 (d) and (f), respectively, of the Social Security Act. The physician performance standard rates of increase for Federal FY 1994 are 8.6 percent for surgical services, 10.5 percent for primary care services, 9.2 percent for other nonsurgical services, and 9.3 percent for all physicians' services. The fee schedule update for CY 1994 is 10.0 percent for surgical services, 7.9 percent for primary care services, and 5.3 percent for other nonsurgical services. This notice also references the surgical and nonsurgical designations for new and revised procedure codes in the Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology, to be used in applying the CY 1994 updates and for establishing and measuring expenditures under the MVPS for FY 1994. These designations appear in Addendum C of the final rule with comment period entitled "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies and Adjustments to the Relative Value Units under the Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 1994 (BPD-770-FC)," published elsewhere in this Federal Register issue. The new and revised surgical and nonsurgical designations are subject to public comment. In addition, this notice addresses public comments on the "initial" procedure-specific list of surgical services published in our November 25, 1992, notice.     

Medicare program; physician fee schedule update for calendar year 1997 and physician volume performance standard rates of increase for Federal fiscal year 1997--HCFA. Final notice

This final notice announces the calendar year 1997 updates to the Medicare physician fee schedule and the Federal fiscal year 1997 volume performance standard rates of increase for expenditures for physicians' services under the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) program as required by sections 1848 (d) and, (f), respectively, of the Social Security Act. The fee schedule updates for calendar year 1997 are 1.9 percent for surgical services, 2.5 percent for primary care services, and -0.8 percent for other nonsurgical services. While it does not affect payment for any particular service, there was a 0.6 percent increase in the update for all physicians' services for 1997. The physician volume performance standard rates of increase for Federal fiscal year 1997 are -3.7 percent for surgical services, 4.5 percent for primary care services, -0.5 percent for other nonsurgical services, and a weighted average of -0.3 percent for all physicians' services.     

Medicare program; revisions to payment policies and adjustments to the relative value units under the physician fee schedule for calendar year 1996--HCFA. Final rule with comment period

This final rule revises various policies affecting payment for physician services including Medicare payment for physician services in teaching settings, the relative value units (RVUs) for certain existing procedure codes, and establishes interim RVUs for new and revised procedure codes. The rule also includes the final revised 1996 geographic practice cost indices. The rule redesignates current regulations on teaching hospitals, on the services of physicians to providers, on the services of physicians in providers, and on the services of interns and residents. This redesignation consolidates related rules affecting a specific audience in a separate part and, thereby, makes them easier to use.     

Medicare program; revisions to payment policies and adjustments to the relative value units under the physician fee schedule for calendar year 1999--HCFA. Final rule with comment period

This final rule makes several policy changes affecting Medicare Part B payment. The changes that relate to physicians' services include: resource-based practice expense relative value units (RVUs), medical direction rules for anesthesia services, and payment for abnormal Pap smears. Also, we are rebasing the Medicare Economic Index from a 1989 base year to a 1996 base year. Under the law, we are required to develop a resource-based system for determining practice expense RVUs. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) delayed, for 1 year, implementation of the resource-based practice expense RVUs until January 1, 1999. Also, BBA revised our payment policy for nonphysician practitioners, for outpatient rehabilitation services, and for drugs and biologicals not paid on a cost or prospective payment basis. In addition, BBA permits certain physicians and practitioners to opt out of Medicare and furnish covered services to Medicare beneficiaries through private contracts and permits payment for professional consultations via interactive telecommunication systems. Furthermore, we are finalizing the 1998 interim RVUs and are issuing interim RVUs for new and revised codes for 1999. This final rule also announces the calendar year 1999 Medicare physician fee schedule conversion factor under the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) program as required by section 1848(d) of the Social Security Act. The 1999 Medicare physician fee schedule conversion factor is $34.7315.     

Medicare program; revisions to payment policies and adjustments to the relative value units under the physician fee schedule for calendar year 1994--HCFA. Final rule with comment period

This final rule revises the payment policy for specific physician services and supplies, revises the relative value units (RVUs) assigned to certain existing procedure codes, and establishes interim RVUs for new and revised procedure codes. Section 6102(a) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, as amended by section 4118 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, requires establishment of the physician fee schedule and periodic review and adjustment of the RVUs. Further changes concerning payment for certain physician services are required by sections 13513 through 13517 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.     

CLIA program; fee schedule revision--HCFA. General notice with comment period

This notice updates the certificate fees for laboratories established under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) consistent with the methodology set forth in 42 CFR part 493. Section 353 (m) of the Public health Service Act requires that fees be collected to recoup costs of general administration of the CLIA Program. By economizing at every opportunity, the CLIA program has managed to maintain the fees established in 1992 and has absorbed all increases in costs. Revisions to the fees are necessary because the current fees are no longer sufficient to support the administration of the CLIA program. This restructuring of fees will move equitably distribute fees across all sizes and complexity of laboratories. For purposes of simplification, this notice announces a flat fee of $100 for a certificate of registration.     

Medicare Program; physician performance standard rates of increase for fiscal year 1994 and physician fee schedule update for calendar year 1994--HCFA. Correction of final notice with comment period

This document corrects an error that occurred in the calculation of the fiscal year 1994 Medicare volume performance standard for surgical services and that appeared in the final notice with comment period published in the Federal Register on December 2, 1993 (58 FR 63856) entitled "Medicare Program; Physician Performance Standard Rates of Increase for Fiscal Year 1994 and Physician Fee Schedule Update for Calendar Year 1994." This notice also corrects a typographical error in a date.     

Medicare program; revisions to payment policies under the physician fee schedule for calendar year 1999--HCFA. Proposed rule

This proposed rule would make several policy changes affecting Medicare Part B payment. The changes that relate to physician services include: resource-based practice expense relative value units, medical direction rules for anesthesia services, and payment for abnormal Pap smears. Also, we would rebase the Medicare Economic Index from a 1989 base year to a 1996 base year. Under the law, we are required to develop a resource-based system for determining practice expense relative value units. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA 1997) delayed, for 1 year, implementation of the resource-based practice expense relative value units until January 1, 1999. Also, BBA 1997 revised our payment policy for nonphysician practitioners, for outpatient rehabilitation services, and for drugs and biologicals not paid on a cost or prospective payment basis. In addition, BBA 1997 permits certain physicians and practitioners to opt out of Medicare and furnish covered services to Medicare beneficiaries through private contracts. In addition, since we established the physician fee schedule on January 1, 1992, our experience indicates that some of our Part B payment policies need to be reconsidered. This proposed rule is intended to correct inequities in physician payment and solicits public comments on specific proposed policy changes.     

Medicare program; revisions to payment policies and five-year review of and adjustments to the relative value units under the physician fee schedule for calendar year 1997--HCFA. Final rule with comment period

This final rule makes several policy changes affecting Medicare payment for physician services, including payment for diagnostic services and transportation in connection with furnishing diagnostic tests. The final rule also makes changes in geographic payment areas (localities) and changes in the procedure status codes for a variety of services. Since we established the physician fee schedule on January 1, 1992, our experience indicates that some of our policies may need to be reconsidered. This final rule is intended to correct several inequities in physician payment. This final rule also makes changes to work relative value units (RVUs) affecting payment for physician services. Section 1848(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act requires that we review all work RVUs no less often than every 5 years. Since we implemented the physician fee schedule effective for services furnished beginning January 1, 1992, we have completed the 5-year review of work RVUs that will be effective for services furnished beginning January 1, 1997. In addition, we are finalizing the 1996 interim RVUs and are issuing interim RVUs for new and revised procedure codes for 1997.     

Medicare program; schedule of limits for skilled nursing facility inpatient routine service costs--HCFA. Final notice with comment period

This final notice with comment period sets forth an updated schedule of limits on skilled nursing facility routine service costs for which payment may be made under the Medicare program. Section 1888(a) of the Social Security Act requires that for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 1992, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary update the per diem cost limits for skilled nursing facility routine service costs.