October 31, 2008
2009 Physician Fee Schedule includes payment increase for anesthesiology
ASA is pleased to announce that the 2009 Physician Fee Schedule includes a nearly 5 percent increase to the national unadjusted Medicare anesthesia conversion factor. Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, the conversion factor will be $20.92, up from $19.97 in 2008.
The increase is a result of provisions included in H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), which became law on July 15, 2008. Specifically, MIPPA provided a 1.1 percent conversion factor increase, and implemented a new formula for calculating budget neutrality, which accounted for approximately an additional 3 percent improvement.
To access the regulation, please visit http://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-26213_PI.pdf.
The newest increase marks another of ASA’s tremendous legislative and regulatory accomplishments during the 110th Congress. Other victories include:
- A historic 32 percent increase in the work portion of the anesthesia conversion factor. This amounted to a 25 percent overall increase, which translates to an average of approximately $20,000 in increased Medicare payments to anesthesiologists for each year going forward.
- Much-needed reform of the Medicare anesthesiology teaching rule beginning in 2010. ASA successfully worked with Members of Congress to reverse the 50 percent payment penalty for teaching programs by including legislative language in H.R. 6331. This will amount to one-half billion dollars for teaching programs over 10 years.
- A reprieve from SGR cuts. ASA joined the rest of medicine to successfully lobby for an 18-month fix to the planned Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate formula (SGR) cuts. Instead of a 10.1 percent cut scheduled for 2008, physicians have seen a continued 0.5% positive update. Further, the 1.1 percent positive update included in the 2009 Physician Fee Schedule replaces a scheduled 15 percent cut.
Please check www.ASAhq.org for additional information and analysis as it becomes available.