PBN Minute - Up to the minute information for your financial success

A CMS proposed rule that may severely restrict radiology practices from providing high quality imaging services to Medicare patients is currently in its comment period. Practicing radiologists are encouraged to submit comments opposing the rule before the August 30th deadline.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposes to apply a multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) to the professional component (PC) of advanced diagnostic imaging services when they are administered to the same patient, by the same physician, during the same session. The full text of the proposed rule (2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule CMS-1524-P) is available on the CMS website.

CMS believes significant efficiencies are gained when radiologists interpret successive imaging studies on the same patient during the same session which justifies a corresponding payment reduction. As any practicing radiologist knows, radiologists expend an equal amount of time, effort, and skill on interpreting every image, whether previous examinations were performed that day, and irrespective of the modality or section of the body under examination.

For specific information about how the ruling may affect your practice and what PBN is doing to help, contact a PBN client liaison at .

For more information and guidance on this and other issues that affect your bottom line, contact . . .

This article was developed from information provided by Michael A. Bohl, President, RBMA Board of Directors. The RBMA is encouraging its members to contact CMS directly by personalizing this draft letter. You may formally submit your completed letter to CMS by clicking here and following these steps:

On the "Comments" page for CMS, complete Section 1 and type in “See Comment Letter Attached” in the comments area.
To attach your edited comment letter, under Section 3, “Upload File(s),” click “Browse” and select your comment letter, then click “Attach.”

RBMA asks that you also forward a copy of your letter to Michael Mabry at , RBMA's contact for this effort.

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Special Issue: Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction Proposed: Your Action Needed