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2005 physician fee schedule released

Physician Practice Advisor, December 13, 2004

Physicians, in general, got a 1.5% pay hike Nov. 2 when the 2005 physician fee schedule was released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

In 2005, CMS projects that aggregate spending under the fee schedule will increase 4 percent to $55.3 billion, up from $53.1 billion in 2004. The spending increase is due in part to an MMA provision that increased physician payment rates by 1.5 percent, a move that negated a previous law's planned cut of payment rates by 3.3 percent for 2005.

The final rule also confirms that the "Welcome to Medicare Physical" for all new beneficiaries will be covered, as will screening services for cardiac and diabetes services. CMS has made two changes to the proposed benefit. Physicians can bill and will be paid separately for the screening electrocardiogram, in addition to payment for the physical; and physicians can bill for a more extensive office visit when performed at the same time as the physical, as long as the services are medically necessary.

The final rule was published in the November 15, 2004 Federal Register and become effective January 1, 2005.

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