[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 159 (Monday, August 18, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43962-43963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21730]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

42 CFR Parts 400, 405, 410, and 414

[BPD-884-CN]
RIN 0938-AH94


Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the 
Physician Fee Schedule, Other Part B Payment Policies, and 
Establishment of the Clinical Psychologist Fee Schedule for Calendar 
Year 1998; Correction

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

ACTION: Correction of proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the 
proposed rule published in the Federal Register on June 18, 1997 
entitled ``Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the 
Physician Fee Schedule, Other Part B Payment Policies, and 
Establishment of the Clinical Psychologist Fee Schedule for Calendar 
Year 1998.''


[[Page 43963]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stanley Weintraub, (410) 786-4498.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background.

    In the Federal Register Document dated June 18, 1997, there were a 
number of technical errors. In Addendum B of the proposed rule, on 
pages 33195 through 33196, the proposed statistical linking methodology 
is discussed. In preparing the table entitled ``Linking Adjustment 
Factors by CPEP,'' the actual linking factors were not accurately 
stated. The actual factors are shown in the revised table in this 
document under the heading ``Correction of Errors.''
    In addition, in Addendum C, on page 33288, we inadvertently printed 
incorrect information for CPT code 92543 (caloric vestibular testing).
    The discussion on page 33183 of the proposed rule indicated that we 
are proposing to reduce the relative value units (RVUs) for CPT code 
92543 to 25 percent of what the RVUs would otherwise have been. As 
explained in that material, we are making this proposal because we plan 
to permit physicians and suppliers to bill four units of service 
instead of the one until now permitted. The intent is to reduce billing 
confusion regarding these codes in a budget-neutral way.
    In Addendum C of the proposed rule, the reduction to 25 percent of 
the RVUs otherwise applicable was reflected for the practice expense 
RVUs, but we incorrectly published unreduced RVUs for work and 
malpractice. The corrected RVUs appear in this document under the 
heading ``Correction of Errors.''

Correction of Errors

    In FR Doc. 97-15817 of June 18, 1997 (62 FR 33158), insert the 
following revised table on page 33196:

             Addendum B.--Linking Adjustment Factors by CPEP            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Clinical                 
                                                labor     Administrative
                    CPEP                       linking     labor linking
                                              adjustment    adjustment  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CPEP #1....................................          .84            .50 
CPEP #2....................................          .40            .36 
CPEP #3....................................          .42            .31 
CPEP #4....................................         1.03            .56 
CPEP #5....................................          .96            .52 
CPEP #6....................................          .80            .46 
CPEP #7....................................         1.00           1.00 
CPEP #8....................................          .44            .22 
CPEP #9....................................          .54            .35 
CPEP #10...................................          .91            .78 
CPEP #11...................................          .93            .39 
CPEP #12...................................          .55            .24 
CPEP #13...................................          .77            .44 
CPEP #14...................................         1.00           1.00 
CPEP #15...................................         1.07            .20 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Make the following corrections in Addendum C for CPT code 92543 on 
page 33288:

                                            Addendum C.--Relative Value Units (RVUs) and Related Information                                            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Direct                                                          
                                                                           Direct in    out of    Total in  Total out                                   
CPT \1\ /                                                       Physician    office     office     office   of office  Malpractice   Total in  Total out
  HCPCS         MOD           Status          Description       work RVUs   practice   practice   practice   practice      RVUs       office   of office
   \2\                                                           \3\ \4\    expense    expense    expense    expense                                    
                                                                              RVUs       RVUs       RVUs       RVUs                                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                                        
                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  
92543...  ..............  A              Caloric vestibular          0.10       0.14       0.14       0.20       0.20        0.02        0.32       0.32
                                          test.                                                                                                         
92543...  26............  A              Caloric vestibular          0.10       0.02       0.02       0.05       0.05        0.01        0.16       0.16
                                          test.                                                                                                         
92543...  TC............  A              Caloric vestibular          0.00       0.12       0.12       0.15       0.15        0.01        0.16       0.16
                                          test.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                        
                   *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ CPT codes and descriptions only are copyright 1996 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS apply.                  
\2\ Copyright 1994 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.                                                                                    
\3\ + Indicates RVUs are not for Medicare Payment.                                                                                                      
\4\ * Work RVUs increased in global surgical package.                                                                                                   

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 6, 1997.
Neil J. Stillman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 97-21730 Filed 8-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-M