CMS finally released the long-awaited 2004 conversion factor. According to CMS' Dec. 24 transmittal, the new conversion factor stands at 37.3374.
Due to last-minute legislation in late November, CMS did not release a specific conversion rate for the 2004 Physician Fee Schedule, but simply said that it would be 1.5 percent higher than the 2003 rate of 36.7856.
The new conversion factor went into effect as of Jan. 1, 2004. For more information on the Fee Schedule, visit the CMS Web site at www.cms.gov.