[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 187 (Friday, September 26, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 55566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24548]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Parts 410 and 414

[CMS-1476-CN]
RIN 0938-AL96


Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the 
Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2004; Correction

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Correction of proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This document corrects an error that appeared in the proposed 
rule published in the Federal Register on August 15, 2003 entitled 
``Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule for 
Calendar Year 2004.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Milstead (410) 786-3355.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In FR Doc. 03-20662 of August 15, 2003, we published the proposed 
rule to update the physician fee schedule for CY 2004 (68 FR 49030). We 
identified an error and we are correcting it in the Correction of 
Errors section below.

II. Correction of Error

    In FR Doc. 03-20662 of August 15, 2003 we are making the following 
correction:
    On page 49058 in section III. A. 6. ``Adjustments to RVUs to Match 
the New MEI Weights,'' the last sentence of this discussion, which is 
in the second column, incorrectly states that the effects of these 
adjustments are included in Addendum B of the proposed rule. We also 
omitted the word ``estimated'' when we discussed changes to the RVUs. 
Therefore, we are replacing the last two sentences of this section with 
the following: ``For this reason, we are proposing to reduce the 
physician work RVUs by an estimated 0.35 percent (0.9965) and the 
practice expense RVUs by an estimated 1.15 percent (0.9885) and 
increase the malpractice RVUs by an estimated 21.7 percent (1.217) to 
match the rebased MEI weights. We will include the effects of these 
adjustments in the physician fee schedule final rule and, as explained 
previously, we are not proposing a compensating adjustment to the 
conversion factor.''

III. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking

    We ordinarily publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the 
Federal Register to provide a period for public comment prior to 
publication of a final notice. We can waive this procedure, however, if 
we find good cause that notice and comment procedure is impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest and incorporate a 
statement of the finding and the reasons for it into the notice issued.
    We find it unnecessary to undertake notice and comment rulemaking 
because this notice merely provides technical corrections to the 
proposed regulations. Therefore, we find good cause to waive notice and 
comment procedures.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: September 24, 2003.
Ann C. Agnew,
Executive Secretary to the Department.
[FR Doc. 03-24548 Filed 9-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P