2009 Final Physician Fee Schedule Makes More Changes Directed at Diagnostic Tests

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) used the 2009 Medicare final physician fee schedule (2009 PFS) to make additional changes to the complex rules governing diagnostic testing.

Among the most significant of these provisions are changes to the Medicare program's "anti-markup" rule. Other provisions include new standards requiring "mobile" diagnostic testing providers to enroll in the Medicare program as independent diagnostic testing facilities (IDTF) and bill Medicare directly for their services.

While CMS declined to adopt its July 2008 proposal to require physician practices that furnish diagnostic services to qualify and enroll as IDTFs, the agency also declined to take this proposal off of the table for potential future implementation—so more changes may be on the horizon.

The following article provides an overview of the anti-markup rule and other changes related to diagnostic testing services paid for by Medicare Part B. Read more...