FYI - 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Changes

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This doesn't apply to all states, but here is an update from Noridian Medicare.

https://www.noridianmedicare.com/provider/updates/docs/2008_MPFS_Changes_acro.pdf

Medicare Part B

2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Changes

The Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 made several changes affecting payments to Medicare physicians. One change supplies a 0.5 percent increase to the physician fee schedule conversion factor for January 1 through June 30, 2008, instead of the -10.1 percent decrease that was scheduled to take place.

Fee Schedule Files Removed from NAS Web Site

Since there has been a change to the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) rates, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) instructed Medicare carriers to remove the fee schedule files that were no longer effective from contractor web sites. On January 4, 2008 Noridian Administrative Services, LLC (NAS) complied with this directive.

Fees Effective January 1, 2008 to be Posted ASAP

The new rates, providing for a 0.5 percent increase to the physician fee schedule for January 1 through June 30, 2008 will be posted on the NAS web site as soon as they are received, prepared and converted into the proper format. NAS is committed and working to reduce this process to as little time as possible.

No Claims Processing or Payment Delays are Anticipated

At the beginning of each calendar year, NAS anticipates the need to hold claims briefly while adjustments are made to various claim filing procedures. NAS wishes to assure its providers that the conversion and posting of the new MPFS files will not, in any way, affect the timeliness of claims being processed and paid. Claims are still being received and dated as they are sent into the claims processing system by the NAS provider community.

Please Note: The "2008 Anesthesia Conversion Factor Table" listed on the NAS website gives the new, revised, 2008 0.5 percent increase rates valid January 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008.

Applies to the states of: AK, AZ, CO, HI, IA, MT, ND, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA & WY.

Effective Immediately