• A happy new year, indeed!

    In my last post ("Good news from Medicare, over time," Dec. 2, 2010), I mentioned that, assuming Congress intervenes again by the end of the year and the conversion factor for 2011 is no less than it is now, there would be good news for family physicians in the 2011 Medicare physician fee schedule. Well, I am happy to report that Congress and the President did intervene last week and approved legislation that extends the current Medicare physician payment rate through the end of 2011. 

    Admittedly, no increase in the Medicare conversion factor does not sound like good news; after all, it's not like your expenses are going to remain flat for the next year. However, no increase is better than the 25 percent decrease that would have occurred in the absence of an extension. Further, as I noted in my last post, because of relative value unit changes, family physicians should experience an increase in the Medicare payment allowance for some of the services that they provide most often, not to mention the primary care bonus that Medicare will begin to pay in 2011. 

    Congress also voted last week to exempt physicians from the Federal Trade Commission's Red Flags Rule. The rule, which applies to creditors and is in intended to stop identity theft, would have been onerous for the typical medical practice. That burden will now be avoided. 

    So, as you prepare to ring in the new year, you may do so with the knowledge that you will not be paid any less by Medicare in 2011 and, in fact, as a family physician, you will probably be paid more. Happy new year!

    Posted on Dec 17, 2010 by Kent Moore


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