2008 Unadjusted Conversion Factor: $19.97
Chicago —
(February 6, 2008)
ASA is pleased to announce that the 2008 unadjusted Medicare anesthesia conversion factor will be $19.97 per unit, up from $16.19 in 2007. This positive payment update is a culmination of a multi-year effort by ASA to convince both the RUC and CMS that Medicare payments to anesthesiologists were inadequate. ASA members also deserve much credit for inundating CMS with positive comment letters supporting the proposed increase earlier this year.
ASA members should be advised that, unless Congress intervenes, all of medicine will see a 10.1 percent Medicare payment cut due to the SGR beginning on July 1, 2008. The cut was scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2008, but P.L. 110-173 replaced the cut with the short-term 0.5 percent increase.
ASA members are strongly encouraged to contact their Representative and Senators through the Capitol Switchboard, (202) 225-3121, to ask for permanent, meaningful Medicare payment reform and a fix for the Medicare anesthesiology teaching rule. Please check www.ASAhq.org frequently for updates and action alerts.
See attached list for locale-specific conversion factors
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Anesthesiologists: Physicians providing the Lifeline of Modern Medicine TM. Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists is an educational, research and scientific association with more than 50,000 members organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and improve the care of the patient.
For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists website at www.asahq.org.
For patient information, visit
LifeLineToModernMedicine.com
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