Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Coverage:

Smarter Pay On The Way For ESRD Services

Good news for physicians who treat end-stage renal disease. New adjustments to the physician fee schedule could make your job a little easier.
     
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says it will now pay physicians to use telecommunications technology to provide monthly management services for rural beneficiaries on dialysis. 
     
Payment rates for ESRD providers will be increased by the amount of the eliminated ESRD drug cross subsidy. Facility payments will also be adjusted to reflect the higher costs of treating some patients, such as those with extremely low body mass indices, or for factors such as age and body surface area.
     
Overall, both independent and hospital-based facilities will receive an 8.7 percent increase in their composite pay rate in addition to a 1.6 percent pay update for services. Lesson Learned: Pay adjustments could come to the aid of struggling ESRD providers.
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