November 6, 2007
UPDATE:
2008 Physician Fee Schedule:
32 percent increase to anesthesia work!
Good news:
- The 2008 Physician Fee Schedule includes a Medicare payment increase for anesthesiology. The historic 32 percent work increase will counterbalance the 10 percent SGR cut set to take affect in 2008 unless Congress intervenes. No other medical specialty will see such a buffer.
- If Congress acts to avert SGR cuts, anesthesiologists will realize the full potential of the Medicare payment increase
What ASA is doing now
- ASA identified a technical error in the final rule as put on display Nov. 1 and immediately contacted CMS. The error resulted in a substantially lower conversion factor increase than anticipated.
- CMS has acknowledged this error and is in the process of correcting it.
- As soon as ASA receives and confirms the updated Medicare anesthesia conversion factor, we will post the new information to www.asahq.org.
What ASA members must do
- It is more important than ever that you speak out against looming SGR cuts so that anesthesiologists may experience the conversion factor increase in its entirety. Call or write your Representative and Senators today:
Your ASA continues working tirelessly so that anesthesiologists are paid fairly under Medicare. We are committed to ensuring that you are well-represented throughout Congress and the Administration, and we will persist in our efforts to implement the full conversion factor increase. However, we must have your help fighting SGR cuts. Please take action today.