November 26, 2007
UPDATE: 2008 Medicare anesthesia conversion factor: $17.82 unadjusted
ASA is pleased to announce that CMS has issued a corrected Medicare anesthesia conversion factor in response to ASA’s discovery of a technical error in the final rule displayed Nov. 1. For 2008, the unadjusted conversion factor will be $17.82 per unit—not $16.33 as previously announced. These rates are effective for services provided on and after Jan. 1, 2008.
See attached list for locale-specific conversion factors
CMS will include an explanation of this revised amount in a correction notice to be issued in the Federal Register after the 2008 final physician fee schedule is published.
This 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 the revised 2008 conversion factor includes a 10 percent payment cut due to the SGR. This cut will remain in effect unless Congress intervenes before the end of the year. Please take this opportunity to speak out against looming SGR cuts: