Anesthesia Coding Alert

CF and ACF numbers look grim unless fix occurs.Conversion factor news for 2011 is still somewhat up in the air, but the potential cuts look ominous for anesthesia practices."The calendar year 2011 Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor is $25.5217," notes the 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, printed in the Nov. 29 Federal Register. This amounts to a dismal 30 percent cut compared to the current rate of $36.8729."While Congress has provided temporary relief from these reductions every year since 2003, a long-term solution is critical," the Fee Schedule notes. "We are committed to permanently reforming the Medicare payment formula."The 2011 national anesthesia conversion factor (ACF) is even worse, according to the Final Rule: $15.8085. Check your specific area, however, because anesthesia reimbursement varies from state to state -- and even within regions of the same state.Example: Information from TrailBlazer Health Enterprises lists 2011 ACFs in Texas ranging from $15.28 [...]