United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States National Archives and Records Administration Office of the Federal Register author aut Government Organization text government publication eng FR Regulatory Information 1996_register executive 2010-09-24 article Part II Rules and Regulations D09002ee1be02a696 D09002ee1be02a7a2 United States Department of Health and Human Services originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States Health Care Financing Administration originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency This final rule makes several policy changes affecting Medicare payment for physician services, including payment for diagnostic services and transportation in connection with furnishing diagnostic tests. The final rule also makes changes in geographic payment areas (localities) and changes in the procedure status codes for a variety of services. Since we established the physician fee schedule on January 1, 1992, our experience indicates that some of our policies may need to be reconsidered. This final rule is intended to correct several inequities in physician payment. This final rule also makes changes to work relative value units (RVUs) affecting payment for physician services. Section 1848(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act requires that we review all work RVUs no less often than every 5 years. Since we implemented the physician fee schedule effective for services furnished beginning January 1, 1992, we have completed the 5-year review of work RVUs that will be effective for services furnished beginning January 1, 1997. In addition, we are finalizing the 1996 interim RVUs and are issuing interim RVUs for new and revised procedure codes for 1997. DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective January 1, 1997, as provided by the Medicare statute. Ordinarily, 5 U.S.C. section 801 requires that agencies submit major rules to Congress 60 days before the rules are scheduled to become effective. However, the 104th Congress adjourned on October 4, 1996, and the 105th Congress is not scheduled to convene until January 7, 1997. The Department has concluded that, in this instance, a further delay in this rule's effective date in order to satisfy section 801 would not serve the law's intent, since Congress will not be in session during this period, and such delay in the effective date established by the Medicare statute is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The Department finds, on this basis, that there is good cause for establishing this effective date pursuant to 5 U.S.C. section 808(2). Comment Date: We will accept comments on interim RVUs for selected procedure codes identified in Addendum C. Comments will be considered if we receive them at the appropriate address, as provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on January 21, 1997. 61 FR 59490 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-1996-11-22/96-29558 96-29558 fr22no96-22 RIN 0938-AH40 4120-01-P BPD-852-FC https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-1996-11-22/96-29558 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1996-11-22/html/96-29558.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1996-11-22/pdf/96-29558.pdf 227 p. 59490 59716 61 FR 59490 Title 42 Part 410 42 CFR Part 410 Title 42 Part 415 42 CFR Part 415 RIN 0938-AH40 Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies and Five-Year Review of and Adjustments to the Relative Value Units Under the Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 1997; Federal Register Vol. 61, Issue RULE 96-29558 II DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Care Financing Administration 1997-01-01 BPD-852-FC 4120-01-P 96-29558 Final rule with comment period.

This final rule makes several policy changes affecting Medicare payment for physician services, including payment for diagnostic services and transportation in connection with furnishing diagnostic tests. The final rule also makes changes in geographic payment areas (localities) and changes in the procedure status codes for a variety of services. Since we established the physician fee schedule on January 1, 1992, our experience indicates that some of our policies may need to be reconsidered. This final rule is intended to correct several inequities in physician payment. This final rule also makes changes to work relative value units (RVUs) affecting payment for physician services. Section 1848(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act requires that we review all work RVUs no less often than every 5 years. Since we implemented the physician fee schedule effective for services furnished beginning January 1, 1992, we have completed the 5-year review of work RVUs that will be effective for services furnished beginning January 1, 1997. In addition, we are finalizing the 1996 interim RVUs and are issuing interim RVUs for new and revised procedure codes for 1997. DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective January 1, 1997, as provided by the Medicare statute. Ordinarily, 5 U.S.C. section 801 requires that agencies submit major rules to Congress 60 days before the rules are scheduled to become effective. However, the 104th Congress adjourned on October 4, 1996, and the 105th Congress is not scheduled to convene until January 7, 1997. The Department has concluded that, in this instance, a further delay in this rule's effective date in order to satisfy section 801 would not serve the law's intent, since Congress will not be in session during this period, and such delay in the effective date established by the Medicare statute is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The Department finds, on this basis, that there is good cause for establishing this effective date pursuant to 5 U.S.C. section 808(2). Comment Date: We will accept comments on interim RVUs for selected procedure codes identified in Addendum C. Comments will be considered if we receive them at the appropriate address, as provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on January 21, 1997.

Effective Date: This rule is effective January 1, 1997, as provided by the Medicare statute. Ordinarily, 5 U.S.C. section 801 requires that agencies submit major rules to Congress 60 days before the rules are scheduled to become effective. However, the 104th Congress adjourned on October 4, 1996, and the 105th Congress is not scheduled to convene until January 7, 1997. The Department has concluded that, in this instance, a further delay in this rule's effective date in order to satisfy section 801 would not serve the law's intent, since Congress will not be in session during this period, and such delay in the effective date established by the Medicare statute is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The Department finds, on this basis, that there is good cause for establishing this effective date pursuant to 5 U.S.C. section 808(2). Stanley Weintraub, (410) 786-4498. Vol. 61, no. 227 Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration 1996-11-22 continuing daily deposited born digital 512 p. Table of Contents: AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: KF70.A2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-1996-11-22 P0b002ee180a2cd6a 0097-6326 0042-1219 0364-1406 769-004-00000-9 000582072 f:fr22no96 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-1996-11-22 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1996-11-22/pdf/FR-1996-11-22.pdf fdlp 59303 59802 DGPO 2010-09-24 2023-05-06 FR-1996-11-22 machine generated eng FR FR-1996-11-22 61 227