On November 1, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the 2012 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule with comment period (“Final Rule”). Effective January 1, 2012, the Final Rule addresses several key components of physician reimbursement through Medicare including, to name a few, the new practice expense relative value units, changes to the adjustment of geographic practice cost indices, updates to the electronic health records incentive program, expanding the list of eligible services for telehealth services coverage, and reducing physician payments at physician wholly owned or hospital operated practices for hospital admissions occurring within 3 days of a physician service.
Importantly, the Final Rule also indicates that CMS anticipates a 27.4% cut in physician reimbursement payment rates for 2012, though in the past the CMS anticipated reductions have been ameliorated through legislation.
Read the entire final rule here.