Few Internists Predicted To See Some Gains

You will have to gear up for another year of nail-biting to find out whether your Medicare payments will be slashed

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Internists and physicians are not aware what will take place at the end of this month or when the calendar turns to 2011. Some just-in senators and house members will be in place in 2011. However it is not clear whether the current Congress will make changes impacting 2011 pay prior to January, or whether they will leave the issues for the new Congress to handle.

Some internists likely to see some gains

Some specialists like radiology, urology, oncology/hematology, pathology, and emergency medicine will face additional cuts.

Good news: Some specialties will face better news, owing to the government seeking to give primary care practices boosts next year. Some practices anticipate a two percent gain in Medicare allowed charges next year based on an ongoing transition in Medicare's practice expense RVUs, according to one impact table in the final rule. According to the same table, internists should anticipate a one percent boost in their Medicare allowed charges.

That apart, among other practices which will see their pay go up are hand surgeons, who will watch their Medicare allowed charges increase on average by four percent. The following specialists will also see gains in the coming year: neurologists (2%), otolaryngologists (3%), dermatologists (4%), plastic surgeons (3%), and colorectal surgeons (3%).

CPT establishes annual wellness visit codes

The Fee Schedule also incorporates various provisions of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 that was passed in March.

New coverage: The Fee Schedule establishes coverage for annual wellness visits for Medicare patients.

Change: If an internist carries out a procedure that meets CMS's description of an annual wellness visit, don't report a code from CPT's preventive medicine section to your Part B carrier, indicates the Final Rule. CMS doesn't pay for preventive medicine services billed under 99381-99397. In its place, report one of the following newly-established HCPCS codes that'll be effective from January 1, 2011: G0438, G0439.

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by: angela martin

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