CMS Proposes 21.5% Physician Pay Cut and Other Measures for 2010

The proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) projects a 21.5% cut in physician payments for 2010. CMS expects that the cut will be offset by proposals in President Obama's plans for health reform, which will reduce future cuts and will increase payments for primary care physicians.

CMS' proposal also includes the following:

• Reallocating a higher proportion of professional liability insurance costs to physicians with the highest malpractice costs;


• Reducing payments for imaging services to provide increased payments for services such as primary care;


• And encouraging participation in the Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program and the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative.

The proposed rule can be found in the Federal Register. It is open for public comment until August 31, with the final rule going into effect on November 1.

To read the proposed rule, click here:
http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-15835_PI.pdf.