The President has recently signed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010. The Act provides for a 0% update to the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) through February 28, 2010, a change from the 21% reduction that was set to take effect January 1, 2010. In light of the change, Medicare contractors will hold claims with 2010 dates of services to allow time for the contractors to receive the new payment files and to perform testing. CMS has instructed contractors to begin processing claims under the new MPFS rates no later than January 19, 2010. CMS expects little effect on provider cash flow because, even without the hold, contractors may not pay an electronic claim sooner than 14 calendar days from its date of receipt. More information is available here at CMS’s website.
von Briesen Health Law Blog
