CMS Posts Locale-Specific Medicare Anesthesia Conversion Factors

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has posted the conversion factors and share weights specific to each locale for services provided from Jan 1, 2014 through March 31, 2014.  The national unadjusted anesthesia conversion factor will be $22.62 for this time frame.  The figures reflect the 0.5 percent update included in the Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013.  Without this override, the SGR formula would have resulted in a conversion factor of $17.22. The CY 2013 anesthesia conversion factor was $21.92. ASA will continue all efforts to make sure that anesthesiologists’ interests are heard as Congress continues work to repeal and replace the Sustainable Growth Rate formula.