The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday announced proposed changes to policies and payment rates for services to be furnished in 2010 under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). In describing the changes, the Wall Street Journal of July 2, 2009 said, "The Obama administration...plans to cut Medicare payments for imaging services and specialists, and will use the savings to increase payments to physicians providing primary care. Under the proposal, Medicare would put specialists' payments for evaluating and managing illnesses on par with those of primary-care physicians starting in January." The Journal further reports the various proposed changes "would boost payments to internists, family physicians, general practitioners and geriatric specialists by 6% to 8% next year...Payments to cardiologists would be trimmed by 11% overall, but certain procedures they perform would see steeper reductions....Radiologists would see an estimated cut of 20% for imaging services using expensive equipment such as MRI and CT scans..." The proposal is open for public comment until August 31.
The Wall Street Journal's article, "Medicare Plans to Cut Specialists' Payments" by Jane Zhang, can be read in its entirety by clicking on its title.
