ACR Practice Expense Recommendations for Medicare Accepted by CMS
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also announced in the July 27 proposed rule its intent to accept the practice expense supplemental survey data for radiology that the ACR provided. The data will be used to permanently establish resource-based relative values for practice expense in the 2006 Medicare Fee Schedule.
The supplemental survey data also helps to resolve current issues with the nonphysician work pool (NPWP), which affects the technical reimbursement for radiology procedures in the office setting. Radiology, radiation oncology, and cardiology services are affected by the NPWP. The ACR is working in conjunction with American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology to ensure the radiation oncology supplemental survey data is also accepted by CMS, so all radiology-related NPWP issues will be resolved by 2006.