Government
Medicare fee update proposed
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 9, 2004
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published a proposed rule July 27 that includes a 1.5% across-the-board increase in Medicare payments to physicians in 2005, plus a 5% incentive payment to primary care physicians and specialists who work in underserved areas.
The proposed rule also introduces the "Welcome to Medicare Physical," part of a program-wide effort to place more emphasis on preventive care and disease management.
It also contains expected changes to the reimbursement for oncology drugs administered in physicians' offices. CMS officials said they want to stop paying exaggerated prices for these drugs and instead start reimbursing oncologists directly for the cost of administering the medications.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/08/09/gvbf0809.htm.
