October 2008 Update to MPFS Released

The October update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) is out. CMS is amending payment files issued to contractors based on the 2008 final rule in an Aug. 22 transmittal.
Medicare contractors are to give providers 30 days notice before implementing the changes outlined in CR 6180. The implementation date for these changes is Oct. 6 and current MPFS rates are (unless otherwise noted in the transmittal) retroactive Jan. 1.
Contractors are instructed to adjust payment for or retroactively pay only those claims brought to their attention.
Included in the October Update to the 2008 MPFS are the following changes:

CPT® code	Action
15878	Bilateral Indicator = 1 (150 percent payment adjustment applies)
15879	Bilateral Indicator = 1 (150 percent payment adjustment applies)
92557	PC/TC Indicator = 9 (PC/TC doesn’t apply)
92567	PC/TC Indicator = 9 (PC/TC doesn’t apply)
93660–26	Multiple Procedure Indicator = 2 (Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply)

(Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply)
Changes made to HCPCS Level II codes G0398-G0400 are retroactive to March 13. And an editorial change was made to the long descriptor for HCPCS Level II code G0250.
Refer to CR 6180 on the CMS Web site for more information on the changes to the 2008 MPFS database.