The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to remove restrictions on payment for low-osmolar contrast materials (LOCM) as part of a program designed to provide new preventive benefits and raise physician payments for 2005.
In addition to new preventive benefits, CMS said that the proposed rule aims to also give beneficiaries more access to state-of-the-art treatments, such as the use of LOCM. The agency said that although LOCM agents are more expensive than other contrast materials, it recognizes that their use has become standard practice among radiologists.
CMS is also proposing an across-the-board increase in payment rates for physicians taking care of Medicare beneficiaries in its physician fee schedule rule for 2005, as well as new incentive payments to doctors practicing in areas with physician shortages.
The new policies will be part of a proposed rule to be published in the August 5 Federal Register. Comments will be accepted until September 24, and CMS said it plans to publish the final rule by November 1 for an effective date of January 1, 2005.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersJuly 28, 2004
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