[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 159 (Thursday, August 15, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 42385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20764]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

42 CFR Part 415

[BPD-827-CN]
RIN 0938-AG96


Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies and Adjustments 
to the Relative Value Units Under the Physician Fee Schedule for 
Calendar Year 1996

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION: Correction of final rule with comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the 
final rule with comment period published in the Federal Register on 
December 8, 1995 (60 FR 63124) entitled ``Medicare Program; Revisions 
to Payment Policies and Adjustments to the Relative Value Units Under 
the Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 1996.''

EFFECTIVE DATES: January 1, 1996, except part 415, which is effective 
July 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shana Olshan, (410) 786-5714; William 
Morse, (410) 786-4520.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In the Federal Register Document [95-29754], dated December 8, 
1995, on page 63172 there is a technical error in the preamble and, on 
pages 63177 and 63187 there are technical errors in the regulations 
text in Sec. 414.30 (``Conversion factor update'') and Sec. 415.178 
(``Anesthesia services''), respectively. In Sec. 414.30, due to a 
typographical error, we inadvertently identified a revision being made 
to paragraph (b)(3) as adding a new paragraph (c). We correct both the 
amendatory statement and the regulations text. In the final rule, we 
also inadvertently retained language reflected in the July 26, 1995 (60 
FR 38430) proposed rule concerning documentation of a preoperative and 
postoperative visit by the teaching physician in connection with 
anesthesia services. To be consistent with our policy of not requiring 
the teaching surgeon to be present at the preoperative and 
postoperative visit, we intended to revise the language related to the 
teaching anesthesiologist.

Correction of Errors

Preamble

    Beginning on page 63171, in column 3, the first sentence of the 
last paragraph is corrected to read: ``The information collection 
requirements in Sec. 415.178 (``Anesthesia services''), paragraph (b), 
concern documentation of the teaching physician's presence or 
participation in the administration of the anesthesia. To be consistent 
with our policy concerning teaching surgeons, we will not require 
documentation of presence at the preoperative and postoperative 
visit.''

Regulations Text

    1. On page 63177, in column 1, item 4 is corrected to read as 
follows:
    ``4. In Sec. 414.30, the introductory text to the section and the 
introductory text to paragraph (b) are republished and paragraphs 
(b)(2) and (3) are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 414.30  Conversion factor update.

    Unless Congress acts in accordance with section 1848(d)(3) of the 
Act--
* * * * *
    (b) Downward adjustment. The downward adjustment may not exceed the 
following:
* * * * *
    (2) For CY 1994, 2.5 percentage points.
    (3) For CYs 1995 and thereafter, 5 percentage points.''


Sec. 415.178  [Corrected]

    2. On page 63187, in column 1, paragraph (b) of Sec. 415.178 
(``Anesthesia services'') is corrected to read as follows: ``(b) 
Documentation. Documentation must indicate the physician's presence or 
participation in the administration of the anesthesia.''

(Section 1848 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4))

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: August 8, 1996.
Neil J. Stillman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Resources Management
[FR Doc. 96-20764 Filed 8-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-M