What's New in Reimbursement

Growth Variances in PT Services  - 4/9/10
UHC Policy on Mechanical Traction - 1/5/10

Medicare Updates from APTA

April 16, 2010: Medicare Payment Bill Becomes Law

Yesterday, the Senate passed an amended HR 4851, the Continuing Extension Act by a vote of 59-48 and sent it to the House for consideration. The House then passed the measure by 289-112 and it was quickly signed by President Obama. This legislation prevents the 21.2% physician fee schedule payment cut by extending 2009 rates until May 31, 2010, and is retroactive to March 31. The bill addresses other key expiring provisions as well, such as unemployment insurance and COBRA benefits.

April 16, 2010: CMS Offers Claim Guidances

The below message regarding claims was sent out to members of the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services listserv this morning:
On April 15, 2010, President Obama signed into law the "Continuing Extension Act of 2010". This law extends through May 31, 2010, the zero percent update to the MPFS that was in effect for claims with dates of service January 1, 2010, to March 31, 2010. The law is retroactive to April 1, 2010. Consequently, effective immediately, claims with dates of service April 1 and later, which were being held by Medicare contractors, are being released for processing and payment. Please keep in mind that the statutory payment floors still apply and, therefore, clean electronic claims cannot be paid before 14 calendar days after the date they are recieved by Medicare contractors (29 calendar days for clean paper claims).

Given the uncertainty regarding MPFS claims with dates of service June 1, 2010, and later, please watch your listservs and your contractor's Web site for more information.