2014 fee schedule and CPT code changes will affect surgical practice.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Policy
• Medical Coding
• Physician Reimbursement

Background:

• The Medicare physician fee schedule governs physician payments.
• Changes in coding and regulations significantly impact healthcare providers.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for financial viability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the 2014 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule.
• To detail significant changes in Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding affecting reimbursement.
• To highlight key areas of impact for physicians.

Main Methods:

• Review of the Medicare physician fee schedule final rule for 2014.
• Analysis of changes in CPT coding relevant to physician services.
• Identification of key provisions affecting payment and reporting.

Main Results:

• The final rule includes updates to the conversion factor, potentially reducing payment.
• New rules address payment for in-office procedures and Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) options.
• Changes affect consultation codes, skin procedures, breast imaging, and other surgical codes.

Conclusions:

• Physicians must adapt to significant changes in Medicare reimbursement for 2014.
• Awareness of fee schedule adjustments and CPT code modifications is essential.
• Compliance with reporting requirements and understanding payment structures are critical for physicians.