The correction takes into consideration calendar year 2010 anesthesia practice expense revisions, according to the ASA release.
The nationwide unadjusted conversion factor for anesthesia services provided between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28, 2010, will be $21.114, according to the release. Anesthesia practices located in Alaska will receive the highest conversion factor at $29.51, whereas practices in Puerto Rico and the Dakotas will receive the lowest at $17.66 and $18.95, respectively.
A list of conversion factors by locale is available here.
Additionally, CMS corrected the 2010 conversion factor across specialties, fixing a technical error in adjusting relative value units, reflective of the agency’s policy with consultation codes, according to CMS.
Here is a list of some of the new 2010 payments under the corrected schedule:
• CPT 27130 (Total hip arthroscopy) (facility) — $1,082.21
• CPT 27447 (Total knee arthroscopy) (facility) — $1,157.72
• CPT 43239 (Upper GI endoscopy, biopsy) (facility) — $134.00
• CPT 66984 (Cataract surgery w/ IOL, I stage) (facility) — $548.77
A complete listing of corrected 2010 payments can be found here.
After Feb. 28, CMS will impose a 21 percent Medicare payment cut across all medical practices, which will directly affect the payments and conversion factors.
For more information on the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule, click here.
Read the ASA release on the revised 2010 Medicare anesthesia conversion factors.
Read the CMS transmittal on the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule.
Read the Federal Register article on corrections to the 2010 Physician fee schedule (pdf).
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