Application of the Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) on Imaging Services to Physicians in the Same Group Practice

 

This article is based on Change Request (CR) 7747 which informs Medicare contractors about changes to the Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR). The MPPR on diagnostic imaging applies when multiple services are furnished by the same physician, to the same patient, in the same session, on the same day. The MPPR on certain diagnostic imaging services applies to Professional Component (PC) and Technical Component (TC) services. It applies to both PC-only services, TC-only services, and to the PC and TC of global services. Full payment is made for each PC and TC service with the highest payment under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). Payment is made at 75 percent for subsequent PC services furnished by the same physician, to the same patient, in the same session, on the same day. Payment is made at 50 percent for subsequent TC services furnished by the same physician, to the same patient, in the same session, on the same day. The individual PC and TC services with the highest payments under the MPFS of globally billed services must be determined in order to calculate the reduction.Currently, the MPPR applies only when an individual physician furnishes multiple services to the same patient, in the same session, on the say day. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is expanding the MPPR on the PC and TC of imaging services by applying it to physicians in the same group practice (same Group National Provider Identifier (NPI)) who furnish multiple services to the same patient, in the same session, on the say day. The complete list of codes subject to the MPPR on diagnostic imaging can be found in Attachment 1 of CR7747, which is available at:

http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/Downloads/R1104OTN.pdf

MedLearn article:

http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM7747.pdf


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