Plus: ICD-9 has 1 more embolism change up its sleeve. You've got to take the good with the bad in CMS's latest round of releases. The proposed physician fee schedule is sure to make you tighten your belt, but proposed changes to MRI coverage may give you added reimbursement to look forward to. Add to that the final ICD-9 2010 rule and you've got plenty of items on your "must watch" list. Here's a quick look at these recent releases. 1. MPFS: Beware Equipment Utilization Changes CMS is projecting a record 21.5 percent rate cut with a proposed conversion factor decrease from 2009's $36.0666 to $28.3208, states the proposed 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), in the July 13 Federal Register (
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-15835.htm). And so begins the annual wait to see if Congress will step in to soften the blow. But the conversion factor isn't the only item you need [...]