Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2017; Medicare Advantage Bid Pricing Data Release; Medicare Advantage and Part D Medical Loss Ratio Data Release; Medicare Advantage Provider Network Requirements; Expansion of Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Model; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements

Federal RegisterNov 15, 2016

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Parts 405, 410, 411, 414, 417, 422, 423, 424, 425, and 460

[CMS-1654-F]

RIN 0938-AS81

Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2017; Medicare Advantage Bid Pricing Data Release; Medicare Advantage and Part D Medical Loss Ratio Data Release; Medicare Advantage Provider Network Requirements; Expansion of Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Model; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This major final rule addresses changes to the physician fee schedule and other Medicare Part B payment policies, such as changes to the Value Modifier, to ensure that our payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services, as well as changes in the statute. This final rule also includes changes related to the Medicare Shared Savings Program, requirements for Medicare Advantage Provider Networks, and provides for the release of certain pricing data from Medicare Advantage bids and of data from medical loss ratio reports submitted by Medicare health and drug plans. In addition, this final rule expands the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program model.

DATES:

These regulations are effective on January 1, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jessica Bruton, (410) 786-5991, for issues related to identification of potentially misvalued services and any physician payment issues not identified below.

Gail Addis, (410) 786-4522, for issues related to diabetes self-management training.

Jaime Hermansen, (410) 786-2064, for issues related to moderate sedation coding and anesthesia services.

Roberta Epps, (410) 786-4503, for issues related to PAMA section 218(a) policy and the transition from traditional x-ray imaging to digital radiography.

Ann Marshall, (410) 786-3059, for primary care issues related to chronic care management (CCM), burden reduction, telehealth services and evaluation and management services.

Emily Yoder, (410) 786-1804, for issues related to resource intensive services, telehealth services and other primary care issues.

Lindsey Baldwin, (410) 786-1694, for primary care issues related to behavioral health integration services.

Geri Mondowney, (410) 786-4584, and Donta Henson, (410) 786-1947, for issues related to geographic practice cost indices.

Michael Soracoe, (410) 786-6312, for issues related to the target and phase-in provisions, the practice expense methodology, impacts, conversion factor, and the valuation of pathology and surgical procedures.

Pamela West, (410) 786-2302, for issues related to therapy.

Patrick Sartini, (410) 786-9252, for issues related to malpractice RVUs, radiation treatment, mammography and other imaging services.

Kathy Bryant, (410) 786-3448, for issues related to collecting data on resources used in furnishing global services.

Donta Henson, (410) 786-1947, for issues related to ophthalmology services.

Corinne Axelrod, (410) 786-5620, for issues related to rural health clinics or federally qualified health centers.

Simone Dennis, (410) 786-8409, for issues related to FQHC-specific market basket.

JoAnna Baldwin, (410) 786-7205, or Sarah Fulton, (410) 786-2749, for issues related to appropriate use criteria for advanced diagnostic imaging services.

Robin Usi, (410) 786-0364, for issues related to open payments.

Sean O'Grady, (410) 786-2259, or Julie Uebersax, (410) 786-9284, for issues related to release of pricing data from Medicare Advantage bids and release of medical loss ratio data submitted by Medicare Advantage organizations and Part D sponsors.

Sara Vitolo, (410) 786-5714, for issues related to prohibition on billing qualified Medicare beneficiary individuals for Medicare cost-sharing.

Michelle Peterman, (410) 786-2591, for issues related to Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participants who report PQRS quality measures separately.

Katie Mucklow, (410) 786-0537 or John Spiegel, (410) 786-1909, for issues related to Provider Enrollment Medicare Advantage Program.

Jen Zhu, (410) 786-3725, Carlye Burd, (410) 786-1972, or Nina Brown, (410) 786-6103, for issues related to Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program model expansion.

Rabia Khan or Terri Postma, (410) 786-8084 or

ACO@cms.hhs.gov

, for issues related to the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

Kimberly Spalding Bush, (410) 786-3232, or Fiona Larbi, (410) 786-7224, for issues related to Value-based Payment Modifier and Physician Feedback Program.

Lisa Ohrin Wilson, (410) 786-8852, or Gabriel Scott, (410) 786-3928, for issues related to physician self-referral updates.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary and Background

A. Executive Summary

B. Background

II. Provisions of the Final Rule for PFS

A. Determination of Practice Expense Relative Value Units (PE RVUs)

B. Determination of Malpractice Relative Value Units (MRVUs)

C. Medicare Telehealth Services

D. Potentially Misvalued Services Under the Physician Fee Schedule

1. Background

2. Progress in Identifying and Reviewing Potentially Misvalued Codes

3. Validating RVUs of Potentially Misvalued Codes

4. CY 2017 Identification and Review of Potentially Misvalued Services

5. Valuing Services That Include Moderate Sedation as an Inherent Part of Furnishing the Procedure

6. Collecting Data on Resources Used in Furnishing Global Services

E. Improving Payment Accuracy for Primary Care, Care Management Services, and Patient-Centered Services

F. Improving Payment Accuracy for Services: Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT)

G. Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services

H. Phase-In of Significant RVU Reductions

I. Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCIs)

J. Payment Incentive for the Transition From Traditional X-Ray Imaging to Digital Radiography and Other Imaging Services

K. Procedures Subject to the Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) and the OPPS Cap

L. Valuation of Specific Codes

M. Therapy Caps

III. Other Provisions of the Final Rule for PFS

A. Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Transitional Care Management (TCM) Supervision Requirements in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

B. FQHC-Specific Market Basket

C. Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Services

D. Reports of Payments or Other Transfers of Value to Covered Recipients: Summary of Public Comments

E. Release of Part C Medicare Advantage Bid Pricing Data and Part C and Part D Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Data

F. Prohibition on Billing Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Individuals for Medicare Cost-Sharing

G. Recoupment or Offset of Payments to Providers Sharing the Same Taxpayer Identification Number

H. Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Participants Who Report Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Quality Measures Separately

I. Medicare Advantage Provider Enrollment

J. Expansion of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Model

K. Medicare Shared Savings Program

L. Value-Based Payment Modifier and Physician Feedback Program

M. Physician Self-Referral Updates

N. Designated Health Services

IV. Collection of Information Requirements

V. Regulatory Impact Analysis

Regulations Text

Acronyms

In addition, because of the many organizations and terms to which we refer by acronym in this final rule, we are listing these acronyms and their corresponding terms in alphabetical order below:

A1c Hemoglobin A1c

AAA Abdominal aortic aneurysms

ACO Accountable care organization

AMA American Medical Association

ASC Ambulatory surgical center

ATA American Telehealth Association

ATRA American Taxpayer Relief Act (Pub. L. 112-240)

AWV Annual wellness visit

BBA Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-33)

BBRA [Medicare, Medicaid and State Child Health Insurance Program] Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-113)

BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics

CAD Coronary artery disease

CAH Critical access hospital

CBSA Core-Based Statistical Area

CCM Chronic care management

CEHRT Certified EHR technology

CF Conversion factor

CG-CAHPS Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems

CLFS Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule

CoA Certificate of Accreditation

CoC Certificate of Compliance

CoR Certificate of Registration

CNM Certified nurse-midwife

CP Clinical psychologist

CPC Comprehensive Primary Care

CPEP Clinical Practice Expert Panel

CPT [Physicians] Current Procedural Terminology (

)

CQM Clinical quality measure

CSW Clinical social worker

CT Computed tomography

CW Certificate of Waiver

CY Calendar year

DFAR Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations

DHS Designated health services

DM Diabetes mellitus

DSMT Diabetes self-management training

eCQM Electronic clinical quality measures

ED Emergency Department

EHR Electronic health record

E/M Evaluation and management

EMT Emergency Medical Technician

EP Eligible professional

eRx Electronic prescribing

ESRD End-stage renal disease

FAR Federal Acquisition Regulations

FDA Food and Drug Administration

FFS Fee-for-service

FQHC Federally qualified health center

FR Federal Register

FSHCAA Federally Supported Health Centers Assistance Act

GAF Geographic adjustment factor

GAO Government Accountability Office

GPCI Geographic practice cost index

GPO Group purchasing organization

GPRO Group practice reporting option

GTR Genetic Testing Registry

HCPCS Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System

HHS [Department of] Health and Human Services

HOPD Hospital outpatient department

HPSA Health professional shortage area

IDTF Independent diagnostic testing facility

IPPE Initial preventive physical exam

IPPS Inpatient Prospective Payment System

IQR Inpatient Quality Reporting

ISO Insurance service office

IT Information technology

IWPUT Intensity of work per unit of time

LCD Local coverage determination

MA Medicare Advantage

MAC Medicare Administrative Contractor

MACRA Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Pub. L. 114-10)

MAP Measure Applications Partnership

MAPCP Multi-payer Advanced Primary Care Practice

MAV Measure application validity [process]

MCP Monthly capitation payment

MedPAC Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

MEI Medicare Economic Index

MFP Multi-Factor Productivity

MIPPA Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (Pub. L. 110-275)

MMA Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173, enacted on December 8, 2003)

MP Malpractice

MPPR Multiple procedure payment reduction

MRA Magnetic resonance angiography

MRI Magnetic resonance imaging

MSA Metropolitan Statistical Areas

MSPB Medicare Spending per Beneficiary

MU Meaningful use

NCD National coverage determination

NCQDIS National Coalition of Quality Diagnostic Imaging Services

NP Nurse practitioner

NPI National Provider Identifier

NPP Nonphysician practitioner

NQS National Quality Strategy

OACT CMS's Office of the Actuary

OBRA ’89 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 101-239)

OBRA ’90 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-508)

OES Occupational Employment Statistics

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OPPS Outpatient prospective payment system

OT Occupational therapy

PA Physician assistant

PAMA Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-93)

PAMPA Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act (Pub. L. 114-115)

PC Professional component

PCIP Primary Care Incentive Payment

PE Practice expense

PE/HR Practice expense per hour

PEAC Practice Expense Advisory Committee

PECOS Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System

PFS Physician Fee Schedule

PLI Professional Liability Insurance

PMA Premarket approval

PPM Provider-Performed Microscopy

PQRS Physician Quality Reporting System

PPIS Physician Practice Expense Information Survey

PPS Prospective Payment System

PT Physical therapy

PT Proficiency Testing

PT/INR Prothrombin Time/International Normalized Ratio

PY Performance year

QA Quality Assessment

QC Quality Control

QCDR Qualified clinical data registry

QRUR Quality and Resources Use Report

RBRVS Resource-based relative value scale

RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act

RHC Rural health clinic

RIA Regulatory impact analysis

RUC American Medical Association/Specialty Society Relative (Value) Update Committee

RUCA Rural Urban Commuting Area

RVU Relative value unit

SBA Small Business Administration

SGR Sustainable growth rate

SIM State Innovation Model

SLP Speech-language pathology

SMS Socioeconomic Monitoring System

SNF Skilled nursing facility

TAP Technical Advisory Panel

TC Technical component

TIN Tax identification number

TCM Transitional Care Management

UAF Update adjustment factor

UPIN Unique Physician Identification Number

USPSTF United States Preventive Services Task Force

VBP Value-based purchasing

VM Value-Based Payment Modifier

Addenda Available Only Through the Internet on the CMS Web Site

The PFS Addenda along with other supporting documents and tables referenced in this final rule are available through the Internet on the CMS Web site at

http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/PhysicianFeeSched/PFS-Federal-Regulation-Notices.html

. Click on the link on the left side of the screen titled,

“PFS Federal Regulations Notices” for a chronological list of PFS

Federal Register

and other related documents. For the CY 2017 PFS Final Rule, refer to item CMS-1654-F. Readers who experience any problems accessing any of the Addenda or other documents referenced in this rule and posted on the CMS Web site identified above should contact Jessica Bruton at (410) 786-5991.

CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) Copyright Notice

Throughout this final rule, we use CPT codes and descriptions to refer to a variety of services. We note that CPT codes and descriptions are copyright 2015 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association (AMA). Applicable Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFAR) apply.

I. Executive Summary and Background

A. Executive Summary

1. Purpose

This major final rule revises payment polices under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and makes other policy changes related to Medicare Part B payment. These changes will be applicable to services furnished in CY 2017. In addition, this final rule includes the following provisions: Payment policy changes for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs); expansion of the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program model; policy changes related to the Medicare Shared Savings Program; and release of pricing data submitted to CMS by Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations; and medical loss ratio reports submitted by MA plans and Part D plans. These additional policies are addressed in section III. of this final rule.

2. Summary of the Major Provisions

The statute requires us to establish payments under the PFS based on national uniform relative value units (RVUs) that account for the relative resources used in furnishing a service. The statute requires that RVUs be established for three categories of resources: Work, practice expense (PE); and malpractice (MP) expense; and, that we establish by regulation each year's payment amounts for all physicians' services paid under the PFS, incorporating geographic adjustments to reflect the variations in the costs of furnishing services in different geographic areas. In this major final rule, we establish RVUs for CY 2017 for the PFS, and other Medicare Part B payment policies, to ensure that our payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services, as well as changes in the statute. In addition, this final rule includes summaries of public comments and final policies regarding:

• Potentially Misvalued Codes.

• Telehealth Services.

• Establishing Values for New, Revised, and Misvalued Codes.

• Target for Relative Value Adjustments for Misvalued Services.

• Phase-in of Significant RVU Reductions.

• Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Transitional Care Management (TCM) Supervision Requirements in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

• FQHC-Specific Market Basket.

• Appropriate Use Criteria for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Services.

• Reports of Payments or Other Transfers of Value to Covered Recipients: Solicitation of Public Comments.

• Release of Part C Medicare Advantage Bid Pricing Data and Part C and Part D Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Data.

• Prohibition on Billing Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Individuals for Medicare Cost-Sharing.

• Recoupment or Offset of Payments to Providers Sharing the Same Taxpayer Identification Number.

• Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Participants Who Report Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Quality Measures Separately.

• Medicare Advantage Provider Enrollment.

• Expansion of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Model.

• Medicare Shared Savings Program.

• Value-Based Payment Modifier and the Physician Feedback Program.

• Physician Self-referral Updates.

• Designated Health Services.

3. Summary of Costs and Benefits

The statute requires that annual adjustments to PFS RVUs may not cause annual estimated expenditures to differ by more than $20 million from what they would have been had the adjustments not been made. If adjustments to RVUs would cause expenditures to change by more than $20 million, we must make adjustments to preserve budget neutrality. These adjustments can affect the distribution of Medicare expenditures across specialties. In addition, several changes in this final rule will affect the specialty distribution of Medicare expenditures. When considering the combined impact of work, PE, and MP RVU changes, the projected payment impacts would be small for most specialties; however, the impact would be larger for a few specialties.

We have determined that this major final rule is economically significant. For a detailed discussion of the economic impacts, see section VI. of this final rule.

B. Background

Since January 1, 1992, Medicare has paid for physicians' services under section 1848 of the Social Security Act (the Act), “Payment for Physicians' Services.” The PFS relies on national relative values that are established for work, PE, and MP, which are adjusted for geographic cost variations. These values are multiplied by a conversion factor (CF) to convert the RVUs into payment rates. The concepts and methodology underlying the PFS were enacted as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 101-239, enacted on December 19, 1989) (OBRA '89), and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-508, enacted on November 5, 1990) (OBRA '90). The final rule published on November 25, 1991 (56 FR 59502) set forth the first fee schedule used for payment for physicians' services.

We note that throughout this major final rule, unless otherwise noted, the term “practitioner” is used to describe both physicians and nonphysician practitioners (NPPs) who are permitted to bill Medicare under the PFS for services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries.

1. Development of the Relative Values

a. Work RVUs

The work RVUs established for the initial fee schedule, which was implemented on January 1, 1992, were developed with extensive input from the physician community. A research team at the Harvard School of Public Health developed the original work RVUs for most codes under a cooperative agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In constructing the code-specific vignettes used in determining the original physician work RVUs, Harvard worked with panels of experts, both inside and outside the federal government, and obtained input from numerous physician specialty groups.

As specified in section 1848(c)(1)(A) of the Act, the work component of physicians' services means the portion

of the resources used in furnishing the service that reflects physician time and intensity. We establish work RVUs for new, revised and potentially misvalued codes based on our review of information that generally includes, but is not limited to, recommendations received from the American Medical Association/Specialty Society Relative Value Update Committee (RUC), the Health Care Professionals Advisory Committee (HCPAC), the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), and other public commenters; medical literature and comparative databases; as well as a comparison of the work for other codes within the Medicare PFS, and consultation with other physicians and health care professionals within CMS and the federal government. We also assess the methodology and data used to develop the recommendations submitted to us by the RUC and other public commenters, and the rationale for their recommendations. In the CY 2011 PFS final rule with comment period (75 FR 73328 through 73329), we discussed a variety of methodologies and approaches used to develop work RVUs, including survey data, building blocks, crosswalk to key reference or similar codes, and magnitude estimation. More information on these issues is available in that rule.

b. Practice Expense RVUs

Initially, only the work RVUs were resource-based, and the PE and MP RVUs were based on average allowable charges. Section 121 of the Social Security Act Amendments of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-432, enacted on October 31, 1994), amended section 1848(c)(2)(C)(ii) of the Act and required us to develop resource-based PE RVUs for each physicians' service beginning in 1998. We were required to consider general categories of expenses (such as office rent and wages of personnel, but excluding malpractice expenses) comprising PEs. The PE RVUs continue to represent the portion of these resources involved in furnishing PFS services.

Originally, the resource-based method was to be used beginning in 1998, but section 4505(a) of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-33, enacted on August 5, 1997) (BBA) delayed implementation of the resource-based PE RVU system until January 1, 1999. In addition, section 4505(b) of the BBA provided for a 4-year transition period from the charge-based PE RVUs to the resource-based PE RVUs.

We established the resource-based PE RVUs for each physicians' service in a final rule, published on November 2, 1998 (63 FR 58814), effective for services furnished in CY 1999. Based on the requirement to transition to a resource-based system for PE over a 4-year period, payment rates were not fully based upon resource-based PE RVUs until CY 2002. This resource-based system was based on two significant sources of actual PE data: The Clinical Practice Expert Panel (CPEP) data; and the AMA's Socioeconomic Monitoring System (SMS) data. (These data sources are described in greater detail in the CY 2012 final rule with comment period (76 FR 73033).

Separate PE RVUs are established for services furnished in facility settings, such as a hospital outpatient department (HOPD) or an ambulatory surgical center (ASC), and in nonfacility settings, such as a physician's office. The nonfacility RVUs reflect all of the direct and indirect PEs involved in furnishing a service described by a particular HCPCS code. The difference, if any, in these PE RVUs generally results in a higher payment in the nonfacility setting because in the facility settings some costs are borne by the facility. Medicare's payment to the facility (such as the outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) payment to the HOPD) would reflect costs typically incurred by the facility. Thus, payment associated with those facility resources is not made under the PFS.

Section 212 of the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-113, enacted on November 29, 1999) (BBRA) directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish a process under which we accept and use, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with sound data practices, data collected or developed by entities and organizations to supplement the data we normally collect in determining the PE component. On May 3, 2000, we published the interim final rule (65 FR 25664) that set forth the criteria for the submission of these supplemental PE survey data. The criteria were modified in response to comments received, and published in the

Federal Register

(65 FR 65376) as part of a November 1, 2000 final rule. The PFS final rules published in 2001 and 2003, respectively, (66 FR 55246 and 68 FR 63196) extended the period during which we would accept these supplemental data through March 1, 2005.

In the CY 2007 PFS final rule with comment period (71 FR 69624), we revised the methodology for calculating direct PE RVUs from the top-down to the bottom-up methodology beginning in CY 2007. We adopted a 4-year transition to the new PE RVUs. This transition was completed for CY 2010. In the CY 2010 PFS final rule with comment period, we updated the practice expense per hour (PE/HR) data that are used in the calculation of PE RVUs for most specialties (74 FR 61749). In CY 2010, we began a 4-year transition to the new PE RVUs using the updated PE/HR data, which was completed for CY 2013.

c. Malpractice RVUs

Section 4505(f) of the BBA amended section 1848(c) of the Act to require that we implement resource-based MP RVUs for services furnished on or after CY 2000. The resource-based MP RVUs were implemented in the PFS final rule with comment period published November 2, 1999 (64 FR 59380). The MP RVUs are based on commercial and physician-owned insurers' malpractice insurance premium data from all the states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information on MP RVUs, see section II.B.2. of this final rule.

d. Refinements to the RVUs

Section 1848(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Act requires that we review RVUs no less often than every 5 years. Prior to CY 2013, we conducted periodic reviews of work RVUs and PE RVUs independently. We completed five-year reviews of work RVUs that were effective for calendar years 1997, 2002, 2007, and 2012.

Although refinements to the direct PE inputs initially relied heavily on input from the RUC Practice Expense Advisory Committee (PEAC), the shifts to the bottom-up PE methodology in CY 2007 and to the use of the updated PE/HR data in CY 2010 have resulted in significant refinements to the PE RVUs in recent years.

In the CY 2012 PFS final rule with comment period (76 FR 73057), we finalized a proposal to consolidate reviews of work and PE RVUs under section 1848(c)(2)(B) of the Act and reviews of potentially misvalued codes under section 1848(c)(2)(K) of the Act into one annual process.

In addition to the five-year reviews, beginning for CY 2009, CMS and the RUC have identified and reviewed a number of potentially misvalued codes on an annual basis based on various identification screens. This annual review of work and PE RVUs for potentially misvalued codes was supplemented by the amendments to section 1848 of the Act, as enacted by section 3134 of the Affordable Care Act, that require the agency to periodically

identify, review and adjust values for potentially misvalued codes.

e. Application of Budget Neutrality to Adjustments of RVUs

As described in section VI.C. of this final rule, in accordance with section 1848(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II) of the Act, if revisions to the RVUs cause expenditures for the year to change by more than $20 million, we make adjustments to ensure that expenditures did not increase or decrease by more than $20 million.

2. Calculation of Payments Based on RVUs

To calculate the payment for each service, the components of the fee schedule (work, PE, and MP RVUs) are adjusted by geographic practice cost indices (GPCIs) to reflect the variations in the costs of furnishing the services. The GPCIs reflect the relative costs of work, PE, and MP in an area compared to the national average costs for each component.

RVUs are converted to dollar amounts through the application of a CF, which is calculated based on a statutory formula by CMS's Office of the Actuary (OACT). The formula for calculating the Medicare fee schedule payment amount for a given service and fee schedule area can be expressed as:

Payment = [(RVU work × GPCI work) + (RVU PE × GPCI PE) + (RVU MP × GPCI MP)] × CF.

3. Separate Fee Schedule Methodology for Anesthesia Services

Section 1848(b)(2)(B) of the Act specifies that the fee schedule amounts for anesthesia services are to be based on a uniform relative value guide, with appropriate adjustment of an anesthesia conversion factor, in a manner to ensure that fee schedule amounts for anesthesia services are consistent with those for other services of comparable value. Therefore, there is a separate fee schedule methodology for anesthesia services. Specifically, we establish a separate conversion factor for anesthesia services and we utilize the uniform relative value guide, or base units, as well as time units, to calculate the fee schedule amounts for anesthesia services. Since anesthesia services are not valued using RVUs, a separate methodology for locality adjustments is also necessary. This involves an adjustment to the national anesthesia CF for each payment locality.

4. Most Recent Changes to the Fee Schedule

Section 220(d) of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-93, enacted on April 1, 2014) (PAMA) added a new subparagraph (O) to section 1848(c)(2) of the Act to establish an annual target for reductions in PFS expenditures resulting from adjustments to relative values of misvalued codes. If the estimated net reduction in expenditures for a year is equal to or greater than the target for that year, the provision specifies that reduced expenditures attributable to such adjustments shall be redistributed in a budget-neutral manner within the PFS. The provision specifies that the amount by which such reduced expenditures exceed the target for a given year shall be treated as a reduction in expenditures for the subsequent year for purposes of determining whether the target for the subsequent year has been met. The provision also specifies that an amount equal to the difference between the target and the estimated net reduction in expenditures, called the target recapture amount, shall not be taken into account when applying the budget neutrality requirements specified in section 1848(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II) of the Act. The PAMA amendments originally made the target provisions applicable for CYs 2017 through 2020 and set the target for reduced expenditures at 0.5 percent of estimated expenditures under the PFS for each of those 4 years.

Subsequently, section 202 of the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (Division B of Pub. L. 113-295, enacted December 19, 2014) (ABLE) accelerated the application of the target, amending section 1848(c)(2)(O) of the Act to specify that target provisions apply for CYs 2016, 2017, and 2018; and setting a 1 percent target for reduced expenditures for CY 2016 and a 0.5 percent target for CYs 2017 and 2018. The implementation of the target legislation was finalized in the CY 2016 PFS final rule with comment period, and revisions are discussed in section II.G. of this final rule.

Section 1848(c)(7) of the Act, as added by section 220(e) of the PAMA, specified that for services that are not new or revised codes, if the total RVUs for a service for a year would otherwise be decreased by an estimated 20 percent or more as compared to the total RVUs for the previous year, the applicable adjustments in work, PE, and MP RVUs shall be phased in over a 2-year period. Section 220(e) of the PAMA required the phase-in of RVU reductions of 20 percent or more to begin for 2017. Section 1848(c)(7) of the Act was later amended by section 202 of the ABLE Act to require instead that the phase-in must begin in CY 2016. The implementation of the phase-in legislation was finalized in the CY 2016 PFS final rule with comment period and revisions in this year's rulemaking are discussed in section II.H. of this final rule.

II. Provisions of the Final Rule for PFS

A. Determination of Practice Expense (PE) Relative Value Units (RVUs)

1. Overview

Practice expense (PE) is the portion of the resources used in furnishing a service that reflects the general categories of physician and practitioner expenses, such as office rent and personnel wages, but excluding malpractice expenses, as specified in section 1848(c)(1)(B) of the Act. As required by section 1848(c)(2)(C)(ii) of the Act, we use a resource-based system for determining PE RVUs for each physicians' service. We develop PE RVUs by considering the direct and indirect practice resources involved in furnishing each service. Direct expense categories include clinical labor, medical supplies, and medical equipment. Indirect expenses include administrative labor, office expense, and all other expenses. The sections that follow provide more detailed information about the methodology for translating the resources involved in furnishing each service into service-specific PE RVUs. We refer readers to the CY 2010 PFS final rule with comment period (74 FR 61743 through 61748) for a more detailed explanation of the PE methodology.

2. Practice Expense Methodology

a. Direct Practice Expense

We determine the direct PE for a specific service by adding the costs of the direct resources (that is, the clinical staff, medical supplies, and medical equipment) typically involved with furnishing that service. The costs of the resources are calculated using the refined direct PE inputs assigned to each CPT code in our PE database, which are generally based on our review of recommendations received from the RUC and those provided in response to public comment periods. For a detailed explanation of the direct PE methodology, including examples, we refer readers to the Five-Year Review of Work Relative Value Units under the PFS and Proposed Changes to the Practice Expense Methodology proposed notice (71 FR 37242) and the CY 2007 PFS final rule with comment period (71 FR 69629).

b. Indirect Practice Expense per Hour Data

We use survey data on indirect PEs incurred per hour worked in developing the indirect portion of the PE RVUs. Prior to CY 2010, we primarily used the practice expense per hour (PE/HR) by specialty that was obtained from the AMA's Socioeconomic Monitoring Surveys (SMS). The AMA administered a new survey in CY 2007 and CY 2008, the Physician Practice Expense Information Survey (PPIS). The PPIS is a multispecialty, nationally representative, PE survey of both physicians and nonphysician practitioners (NPPs) paid under the PFS using a survey instrument and methods highly consistent with those used for the SMS and the supplemental surveys. The PPIS gathered information from 3,656 respondents across 51 physician specialty and health care professional groups. We believe the PPIS is the most comprehensive source of PE survey information available. We used the PPIS data to update the PE/HR data for the CY 2010 PFS for almost all of the Medicare-recognized specialties that participated in the survey.

When we began using the PPIS data in CY 2010, we did not change the PE RVU methodology itself or the manner in which the PE/HR data are used in that methodology. We only updated the PE/HR data based on the new survey. Furthermore, as we explained in the CY 2010 PFS final rule with comment period (74 FR 61751), because of the magnitude of payment reductions for some specialties resulting from the use of the PPIS data, we transitioned its use over a 4-year period from the previous PE RVUs to the PE RVUs developed using the new PPIS data. As provided in the CY 2010 PFS final rule with comment period (74 FR 61751), the transition to the PPIS data was complete for CY 2013. Therefore, PE RVUs from CY 2013 forward are developed based entirely on the PPIS data, except as noted in this section.

Section 1848(c)(2)(H)(i) of the Act requires us to use the medical oncology supplemental survey data submitted in 2003 for oncology drug administration services. Therefore, the PE/HR for medical oncology, hematology, and hematology/oncology reflects the continued use of these supplemental survey data.

Supplemental survey data on independent labs from the College of American Pathologists were implemented for payments beginning in CY 2005. Supplemental survey data from the National Coalition of Quality Diagnostic Imaging Services (NCQDIS), representing independent diagnostic testing facilities (IDTFs), were blended with supplementary survey data from the American College of Radiology (ACR) and implemented for payments beginning in CY 2007. Neither IDTFs, nor independent labs, participated in the PPIS. Therefore, we continue to use the PE/HR that was developed from their supplemental survey data.

Consistent with our past practice, the previous indirect PE/HR values from the supplemental surveys for these specialties were updated to CY 2006 using the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) to put them on a comparable basis with the PPIS data.

We also do not use the PPIS data for reproductive endocrinology and spine surgery since these specialties currently are not separately recognized by Medicare, nor do we have a method to blend the PPIS data with Medicare-recognized specialty data.

Previously, we established PE/HR values for various specialties without SMS or supplemental survey data by crosswalking them to other similar specialties to estimate a proxy PE/HR. For specialties that were part of the PPIS for which we previously used a crosswalked PE/HR, we instead used the PPIS-based PE/HR. We continue previous crosswalks for specialties that did not participate in the PPIS. However, beginning in CY 2010, we changed the PE/HR crosswalk for portable X-ray suppliers from radiology to IDTF, a more appropriate crosswalk because these specialties are more similar to each other for work time.

For registered dietician services, the resource-based PE RVUs have been calculated in accordance with the final policy that crosswalks the specialty to the “All Physicians” PE/HR data, as adopted in the CY 2010 PFS final rule with comment period (74 FR 61752) and discussed in more detail in the CY 2011 PFS final rule with comment period (75 FR 73183). We have incorporated the available utilization data for interventional cardiology, which became a recognized Medicare specialty during 2014. We finalized the use of a proxy PE/HR value for interventional cardiology in the CY 2016 final rule with comment period (80 FR 70892), as there are no PPIS data for this specialty, by crosswalking the PE/HR from Cardiology, since the specialties furnish similar services in the Medicare claims data.

Comment:

A commenter questioned the validity of the PPIS survey data since it is nearly 10 years old. Several other commenters stated that CMS' estimated per-minute labor cost inputs are lower than actual labor costs.

Response:

We have previously identified several concerns regarding the underlying data used in determining PE RVUs in the CY 2014 PFS final rule (78 FR 74246-74247). Even when we first incorporated the survey data into the PE methodology, many in the community expressed serious concerns over the accuracy of this or other PE surveys as a way of gathering data on PE inputs from the diversity of providers paid under the PFS. However, we currently lack another source of comprehensive data regarding PE costs, and as a result, we continue to believe that the PPIS survey data is the best data currently available. We continue to seek the best broad-based, auditable, routinely-updated source of information regarding PE costs.

c. Allocation of PE to Services

To establish PE RVUs for specific services, it is necessary to establish the direct and indirect PE associated with each service.

(1) Direct Costs

The relative relationship between the direct cost portions of the PE RVUs for any two services is determined by the relative relationship between the sum of the direct cost resources (that is, the clinical staff, medical supplies, and medical equipment) typically involved with furnishing each of the services. The costs of these resources are calculated from the refined direct PE inputs in our PE database. For example, if one service has a direct cost sum of $400 from our PE database and another service has a direct cost sum of $200, the direct portion of the PE RVUs of the first service would be twice as much as the direct portion of the PE RVUs for the second service.

(2) Indirect Costs

Section II.A.2.b. of this final rule describes the current data sources for specialty-specific indirect costs used in our PE calculations. We allocated the indirect costs to the code level on the basis of the direct costs specifically associated with a code and the greater of either the clinical labor costs or the work RVUs. We also incorporated the survey data described earlier in the PE/HR discussion. The general approach to developing the indirect portion of the PE RVUs is as follows:

• For a given service, we used the direct portion of the PE RVUs calculated as previously described and the average percentage that direct costs represent of total costs (based on survey data) across the specialties that furnish the service to determine an initial indirect allocator. That is, the initial indirect allocator is

calculated so that the direct costs equal the average percentage of direct costs of those specialties furnishing the service. For example, if the direct portion of the PE RVUs for a given service is 2.00 and direct costs, on average, represented 25 percent of total costs for the specialties that furnished the service, the initial indirect allocator would be calculated so that it equals 75 percent of the total PE RVUs. Thus, in this example, the initial indirect allocator would equal 6.00, resulting in a total PE RVU of 8.00 (2.00 is 25 percent of 8.00 and 6.00 is 75 percent of 8.00).

• Next, we added the greater of the work RVUs or clinical labor portion of the direct portion of the PE RVUs to this initial indirect allocator. In our example, if this service had a work RVU of 4.00 and the clinical labor portion of the direct PE RVU was 1.50, we would add 4.00 (since the 4.00 work RVUs are greater than the 1.50 clinical labor portion) to the initial indirect allocator of 6.00 to get an indirect allocator of 10.00. In the absence of any further use of the survey data, the relative relationship between the indirect cost portions of the PE RVUs for any two services would be determined by the relative relationship between these indirect cost allocators. For example, if one service had an indirect cost allocator of 10.00 and another service had an indirect cost allocator of 5.00, the indirect portion of the PE RVUs of the first service would be twice as great as the indirect portion of the PE RVUs for the second service.

• Next, we incorporated the specialty-specific indirect PE/HR data into the calculation. In our example, if, based on the survey data, the average indirect cost of the specialties furnishing the first service with an allocator of 10.00 was half of the average indirect cost of the specialties furnishing the second service with an indirect allocator of 5.00, the indirect portion of the PE RVUs of the first service would be equal to that of the second service.

(3) Facility and Nonfacility Costs

For procedures that can be furnished in a physician's office, as well as in a facility setting, where Medicare makes a separate payment to the facility for its costs in furnishing a service, we establish two PE RVUs: Facility, and nonfacility. The methodology for calculating PE RVUs is the same for both the facility and nonfacility RVUs, but is applied independently to yield two separate PE RVUs. In calculating the PE RVUs for services furnished in a facility, we do not include resources that would generally not be provided by physicians when furnishing the service. For this reason, the facility PE RVUs are generally lower than the nonfacility PE RVUs.

(4) Services With Technical Components (TCs) and Professional Components (PCs)

Diagnostic services are generally comprised of two components: A professional component (PC) and a technical component (TC). The PC and TC may be furnished independently or by different providers, or they may be furnished together as a “global” service. When services have separately billable PC and TC components, the payment for the global service equals the sum of the payment for the TC and PC. To achieve this, we use a weighted average of the ratio of indirect to direct costs across all the specialties that furnish the global service, TCs, and PCs; that is, we apply the same weighted average indirect percentage factor to allocate indirect expenses to the global service, PCs, and TCs for a service. (The direct PE RVUs for the TC and PC sum to the global.)

(5) PE RVU Methodology

For a more detailed description of the PE RVU methodology, we refer readers to the CY 2010 PFS final rule with comment period (74 FR 61745 through 61746). We also direct interested readers to the file called “Calculation of PE RVUs under Methodology for Selected Codes” which is available on our Web site under downloads for the CY 2017 PFS final rule at

http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/PhysicianFeeSched/PFS-Federal-Regulation-Notices.html

. This file contains a table that illustrates the calculation of PE RVUs as described below for individual codes.

(a) Setup File

First, we create a setup file for the PE methodology. The setup file contains the direct cost inputs, the utilization for each procedure code at the specialty and facility/nonfacility place of service level, and the specialty-specific PE/HR data calculated from the surveys.

(b) Calculate the Direct Cost PE RVUs

Sum the costs of each direct input.

Step 1:

Sum the direct costs of the inputs for each service.

Step 2:

Calculate the aggregate pool of direct PE costs for the current year. We set the aggregate pool of PE costs equal to the product of the ratio of the current aggregate PE RVUs to current aggregate work RVUs and the proposed aggregate work RVUs.

Step 3:

Calculate the aggregate pool of direct PE costs for use in ratesetting. This is the product of the aggregate direct costs for all services from Step 1 and the utilization data for that service.

Step 4:

Using the results of Step 2 and Step 3, use the conversion factor to calculate a direct PE scaling factor to ensure that the aggregate pool of direct PE costs calculated in Step 3 does not vary from the aggregate pool of direct PE costs for the current year. Apply the scaling factor to the direct costs for each service (as calculated in Step 1).

Step 5:

Convert the results of Step 4 to an RVU scale for each service. To do this, divide the results of Step 4 by the CF. Note that the actual value of the CF used in this calculation does not influence the final direct cost PE RVUs, as long as the same CF is used in Step 4 and Step 5. Different CFs will result in different direct PE scaling factors, but this has no effect on the final direct cost PE RVUs since changes in the CFs and changes in the associated direct scaling factors offset one another.

Create indirect allocators.

Step 6:

Based on the survey data, calculate direct and indirect PE percentages for each physician specialty.

Step 7:

Calculate direct and indirect PE percentages at the service level by taking a weighted average of the results of Step 6 for the specialties that furnish the service. Note that for services with TCs and PCs, the direct and indirect percentages for a given service do not vary by the PC, TC, and global service.

We use an average of the 3 most recent years of available Medicare claims data to determine the specialty mix assigned to each code. As we stated in the CY 2016 final rule with comment period (80 FR 70894), we believe that the 3-year average will mitigate the need to use dominant or expected specialty instead of the claims data. Because we incorporated CY 2015 claims data for use in the CY 2017 proposed rates, we believe that the finalized PE RVUs associated with the CY 2017 PFS final rule provide a first opportunity to determine whether service-level overrides of claims data are necessary. Currently, in the development of PE RVUs we apply only the overrides that also apply to the MP RVU calculation. Since the proposed PE RVUs include a new year of claims into the 3-year average for the first time, we solicited comment on the proposed CY 2017 PFS rates and whether or not the incorporation of a new year of utilization data into a 3-year average mitigates the need for alternative service-level overrides such as a claims-based approach (dominant specialty) or stakeholder-recommended approach

(expected specialty) in the development of PE (and MP) RVUs for low-volume codes. Prior year RVUs are available at several locations on the PFS Web site located at

http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/PhysicianFeeSched/

Comment:

Several commenters contended that even a multi-year average of claims data to determine the mix of specialties that furnish the services creates distortions and wide variability for low volume services, particularly those services with fewer than 100 annual Medicare claims. Commenters stated that low volume codes that use a specialty override appear to have stable PE and MP RVUs, while other low volume codes without overrides continue to shift from year to year. Given these fluctuations, commenters suggested that CMS implement service-level overrides to determine the specialty mix for these low volume procedures. These commenters provided a list of nearly 2000 codes and suggested specialty overrides.

Response:

We appreciate commenters' interest in relatively stable PE and MP RVUs and for continuing to highlight the challenges faced when determining the specialty allocation for low volume services. Since we did not make a proposal regarding specialty overrides for low volume services, we do not believe that it would be appropriate to establish overrides for several thousand codes at this time. However, given the continued concerns, we will consider the issue, including these specific recommendations, for future rulemaking.

Step 8:

Calculate the service level allocators for the indirect PEs based on the percentages calculated in Step 7. The indirect PEs are allocated based on the three components: The direct PE RVUs; the clinical labor PE RVUs; and the work RVUs.

For most services the indirect allocator is: Indirect PE percentage * (direct PE RVUs/direct percentage) + work RVUs.

There are two situations where this formula is modified:

• If the service is a global service (that is, a service with global, professional, and technical components), then the indirect PE allocator is: Indirect percentage (direct PE RVUs/direct percentage) + clinical labor PE RVUs + work RVUs.

• If the clinical labor PE RVUs exceed the work RVUs (and the service is not a global service), then the indirect allocator is: Indirect PE percentage (direct PE RVUs/direct percentage) + clinical labor PE RVUs.

(

Note:

For global services, the indirect PE allocator is based on both the work RVUs and the clinical labor PE RVUs. We do this to recognize that, for the PC service, indirect PEs will be allocated using the work RVUs, and for the TC service, indirect PEs will be allocated using the direct PE RVUs and the clinical labor PE RVUs. This also allows the global component RVUs to equal the sum of the PC and TC RVUs.)

For presentation purposes, in the examples in the download file called “Calculation of PE RVUs under Methodology for Selected Codes”, the formulas were divided into two parts for each service.

• The first part does not vary by service and is the indirect percentage (direct PE RVUs/direct percentage).

• The second part is either the work RVU, clinical labor PE RVU, or both depending on whether the service is a global service and whether the clinical PE RVUs exceed the work RVUs (as described earlier in this step).

Apply a scaling adjustment to the indirect allocators.

Step 9:

Calculate the current aggregate pool of indirect PE RVUs by multiplying the result of step 8 by the average indirect PE percentage from the survey data.

Step 10:

Calculate an aggregate pool of indirect PE RVUs for all PFS services by adding the product of the indirect PE allocators for a service from Step 8 and the utilization data for that service.

Step 11:

Using the results of Step 9 and Step 10, calculate an indirect PE adjustment so that the aggregate indirect allocation does not exceed the available aggregate indirect PE RVUs and apply it to indirect allocators calculated in Step 8.

Calculate the indirect practice cost index.

Step 12:

Using the results of Step 11, calculate aggregate pools of specialty-specific adjusted indirect PE allocators for all PFS services for a specialty by adding the product of the adjusted indirect PE allocator for each service and the utilization data for that service.

Step 13:

Using the specialty-specific indirect PE/HR data, calculate specialty-specific aggregate pools of indirect PE for all PFS services for that specialty by adding the product of the indirect PE/HR for the specialty, the work time for the service, and the specialty's utilization for the service across all services furnished by the specialty.

Step 14:

Using the results of Step 12 and Step 13, calculate the specialty-specific indirect PE scaling factors.

Step 15:

Using the results of Step 14, calculate an indirect practice cost index at the specialty level by dividing each specialty-specific indirect scaling factor by the average indirect scaling factor for the entire PFS.

Step 16:

Calculate the indirect practice cost index at the service level to ensure the capture of all indirect costs. Calculate a weighted average of the practice cost index values for the specialties that furnish the service. (

Note:

For services with TCs and PCs, we calculate the indirect practice cost index across the global service, PCs, and TCs. Under this method, the indirect practice cost index for a given service (for example, echocardiogram) does not vary by the PC, TC, and global service.)

Step 17:

Apply the service level indirect practice cost index calculated in Step 16 to the service level adjusted indirect allocators calculated in Step 11 to get the indirect PE RVUs.

(d) Calculate the Final PE RVUs

Step 18:

Add the direct PE RVUs from Step 5 to the indirect PE RVUs from Step 17 and apply the final PE budget neutrality (BN) adjustment. The final PE BN adjustment is calculated by comparing the sum of steps 5 and 17 of to the proposed aggregate work RVUs scaled by the ratio of current aggregate PE and work RVUs. This adjustment ensures that all PE RVUs in the PFS account for the fact that certain specialties are excluded from the calculation of PE RVUs but included in maintaining overall PFS budget neutrality. (See “Specialties excluded from ratesetting calculation” later in this section.)

(e) Setup File Information

•

Specialties excluded from ratesetting calculation:

For the purposes of calculating the PE RVUs, we exclude certain specialties, such as certain NPPs paid at a percentage of the PFS and low-volume specialties, from the calculation. These specialties are included for the purposes of calculating the BN adjustment. They are displayed in Table 1.

Table 1—Specialties Excluded From Ratesetting Calculation

Specialty code

Specialty description

Ambulatory surgical center.

Nurse practitioner.

Medical supply company with certified orthotist.

Medical supply company with certified prosthetist.

Medical supply company with certified prosthetist-orthotist.

Medical supply company not included in 51, 52, or 53.

Individual certified orthotist.

Individual certified prosthetist.

Individual certified prosthetist-orthotist.

Medical supply company with registered pharmacist.

Ambulance service supplier,

e.g.,

private ambulance companies, funeral homes, etc.

Public health or welfare agencies.

Voluntary health or charitable agencies.

Mass immunization roster biller.

Radiation therapy centers.

All other suppliers (

e.g.,

drug and department stores).

Unknown supplier/provider specialty.

Certified clinical nurse specialist.

Optician.

Physician assistant.

Hospital.

SNF.

Intermediate care nursing facility.

Nursing facility, other.

HHA.

Pharmacy.

Medical supply company with respiratory therapist.

Department store.

Pedorthic personnel.

Medical supply company with pedorthic personnel.

•

Crosswalk certain low volume physician specialties:

Crosswalk the utilization of certain specialties with relatively low PFS utilization to the associated specialties.

•

Physical therapy utilization:

Crosswalk the utilization associated with all physical therapy services to the specialty of physical therapy.

•

Identify professional and technical services not identified under the usual TC and 26 modifiers:

Flag the services that are PC and TC services but do not use TC and 26 modifiers (for example, electrocardiograms). This flag associates the PC and TC with the associated global code for use in creating the indirect PE RVUs. For example, the professional service, CPT code 93010 (Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with at least 12 leads; interpretation and report only), is associated with the global service, CPT code 93000 (Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with at least 12 leads; with interpretation and report).

•

Payment modifiers:

Payment modifiers are accounted for in the creation of the file consistent with current payment policy as implemented in claims processing. For example, services billed with the assistant at surgery modifier are paid 16 percent of the PFS amount for that service; therefore, the utilization file is modified to only account for 16 percent of any service that contains the assistant at surgery modifier. Similarly, for those services to which volume adjustments are made to account for the payment modifiers, time adjustments are applied as well. For time adjustments to surgical services, the intraoperative portion in the work time file is used; where it is not present, the intraoperative percentage from the payment files used by contractors to process Medicare claims is used instead. Where neither is available, we use the payment adjustment ratio to adjust the time accordingly. Table 2 details the manner in which the modifiers are applied.

Table 2—Application of Payment Modifiers to Utilization Files

Modifier

Description

Volume adjustment

Time adjustment

80, 81, 82

Assistant at Surgery

16%

Intraoperative portion.

Assistant at Surgery—Physician Assistant

14% (85% * 16%)

Intraoperative portion.

50 or LT and RT

Bilateral Surgery

150%

150% of work time.

Multiple Procedure

50%

Intraoperative portion.

Reduced Services

50%

50%.

Discontinued Procedure

50%

50%.

Intraoperative Care only

Preoperative + Intraoperative Percentages on the payment files used by Medicare contractors to process Medicare claims

Preoperative + Intraoperative portion.

Postoperative Care only

Postoperative Percentage on the payment files used by Medicare contractors to process Medicare claims

Postoperative portion.

Co-surgeons

62.5%

50%.

Team Surgeons

33%

33%.

We also make adjustments to volume and time that correspond to other payment rules, including special multiple procedure endoscopy rules and multiple procedure payment reductions (MPPRs). We note that section 1848(c)(2)(B)(v) of the Act exempts certain reduced payments for multiple imaging procedures and multiple therapy services from the BN calculation under section 1848(c)(2)(B)(ii)(II) of the Act. These MPPRs are not included in the development of the RVUs.

For anesthesia services, we do not apply adjustments to volume since we use the average allowed charge when simulating RVUs; therefore, the RVUs as calculated already reflect the payments as adjusted by modifiers, and no volume adjustments are necessary. However, a time adjustment of 33 percent is made only for medical direction of two to four cases since that is the only situation where a single practitioner is involved with multiple beneficiaries concurrently, so that counting each service without regard to the overlap with other services would overstate the amount of time spent by the practitioner furnishing these services.

•

Work RVUs:

The setup file contains the work RVUs from this final rule.

(6) Equipment Cost Per Minute

The equipment cost per minute is calculated as:

(1/(minutes per year * usage)) * price * ((interest rate/(1−(1/((1 + interest rate)^ life of equipment)))) + maintenance)

Where:

minutes per year = maximum minutes per year if usage were continuous (that is, usage = 1); generally 150,000 minutes.

usage = variable, see discussion below.

price = price of the particular piece of equipment.

life of equipment = useful life of the particular piece of equipment.

maintenance = factor for maintenance; 0.05.

interest rate = variable, see discussion below.

Usage:

We currently use an equipment utilization rate assumption of 50 percent for most equipment, with the exception of expensive diagnostic imaging equipment, for which we use a 90 percent assumption as required by section 1848(b)(4)(C) of the Act.

Stakeholders have often suggested that particular equipment items are used less frequently than 50 percent of the time in the typical setting and that CMS should reduce the equipment utilization rate based on these recommendations. We appreciate and share stakeholders' interest in using the most accurate assumption regarding the equipment utilization rate for particular equipment items. However, we believe that absent robust, objective, auditable data regarding the use of particular items, the 50 percent assumption is the most appropriate within the relative value system. We welcome the submission of data that illustrates an alternative rate.

Maintenance:

This factor for maintenance was finalized in the CY 1998 PFS final rule (62 FR 33164).

We continue to investigate potential avenues for determining equipment maintenance costs across a broad range of equipment items.

Comment:

One commenter stated that the cost of maintaining imaging equipment exceeds the cost of general medical equipment, and that for imaging modalities the median maintenance cost is approximately 10 percent of the equipment purchase price. The commenter stated that the current 5 percent equipment maintenance rate continues to be an inadequate and outdated reflection of actual maintenance costs. The commenter also stated that information on maintenance costs is readily available to CMS through both public and private sources. The commenter did not identify these sources.

Response:

As we previously stated in the CY 2016 final rule with comment period (80 FR 70897), we agree with the commenter that we do not believe the annual maintenance factor for all equipment is exactly 5 percent, and we concur that the current rate likely understates the true cost of maintaining some equipment. We also believe it likely overstates the maintenance costs for other equipment. When we solicited comments regarding sources of data containing equipment maintenance rates, commenters were unable to identify an auditable, robust data source that could be used by CMS on a wide scale. As a result, in the absence of publicly available datasets regarding equipment maintenance costs or another systematic data collection methodology for determining maintenance factor, we do not believe that we have sufficient information at present to adopt a variable maintenance factor for equipment cost per minute pricing. We continue to investigate potential avenues for determining equipment maintenance costs across a broad range of equipment items.

Interest Rate:

In the CY 2013 PFS final rule with comment period (77 FR 68902), we updated the interest rates used in developing an equipment cost per minute calculation. The interest rate was based on the Small Business Administration (SBA) maximum interest rates for different categories of loan size (equipment cost) and maturity (useful life). The interest rates are listed in Table 3. (See 77 FR 68902 for a thorough discussion of this issue.) We did not propose any changes to these interest rates for CY 2017.

Table 3—SBA Maximum Interest Rates

Price

Useful life

Interest rate

(%)

<$25K

<7 Years

7.50

$25K to $50K

<7 Years

6.50

>$50K

<7 Years

5.50

<$25K

7+ Years

8.00

$25K to $50K

7+ Years

7.00

>$50K

7+ Years

6.00

d. Changes to Direct PE Inputs for Specific Services

This section focuses on specific PE inputs. The direct PE inputs are included in the CY 2017 direct PE input database, which is available on our Web site under downloads for the CY 2017 PFS final rule at

http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/PhysicianFeeSched/PFS-Federal-Regulation-Notices.html.

(1) PE Inputs for Digital Imaging Services

Prior to the CY 2015 PFS rulemaking cycle, the RUC provided a recommendation regarding the PE inputs for digital imaging services. Specifically, the RUC recommended that we remove supply and equipment items associated with film technology from a previously specified list of codes since these items were no longer typical resource inputs. The RUC also recommended that the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) equipment be included for these imaging services since these items are typically used in furnishing imaging services. However, since we did not receive any invoices for the PACS system prior to that year's proposed rule, we were unable to determine the appropriate pricing to use for the inputs. For CY 2015, we finalized our proposal to remove the film supply and equipment items, and to create a new equipment item as a proxy for the PACS workstation as a direct expense (79 FR 67561-67563). We used the price associated with ED021 (computer, desktop, w-monitor) to price the new item, ED050 (PACS Workstation Proxy), pending receipt of invoices to facilitate pricing specific to the PACS workstation. Subsequent to establishing payment rates for CY 2015, we received information from several stakeholders regarding pricing for items related to the digital acquisition and storage of images. We received invoices from one stakeholder that facilitated a proposed price update for the PACS workstation in the CY 2016 PFS proposed rule, and we updated the price for the PACS workstation to $5,557 in the CY 2016 PFS final rule with comment period (80 FR 70899).

In addition to the workstation used by the clinical staff for acquiring the images and furnishing the technical component (TC) of the services, a stakeholder also submitted more detailed information regarding a workstation used by the practitioner interpreting the image in furnishing the professional component (PC) of many of these services.

As we stated in the CY 2015 PFS final rule with comment period (79 FR 67563), we generally believe that workstations used by these practitioners are more accurately considered indirect costs associated with the PC of the service. However, we understand that the professional workstations for interpretation of digital images are similar in principle to some of the previous film inputs incorporated into the global and technical components of the codes, such as the view box equipment. Given that the majority of these services are reported globally in the nonfacility setting, we believe it is appropriate to include these costs as direct inputs for the associated HCPCS codes. Based on our established

methodology in which single codes with professional and technical components are constructed by assigning work RVUs exclusively to the professional component and direct PE inputs exclusively to the technical components, these costs would be incorporated into the PE RVUs of the global and technical component of the HCPCS code.

We stated in the CY 2016 PFS final rule with comment period that the costs of the professional workstation may be analogous to costs related to the use of film previously incorporated as direct PE inputs for these services. We also solicited comments on whether including the professional workstation as a direct PE input for these codes would be appropriate, given that the resulting PE RVUs would be assigned to the global and technical components of the codes. Commenters responded by indicating their approval of the concept of a professional PACS workstation used for interpretation of digital images. We received invoices for the pricing of a professional PACS workstation, as well as additional invoices for the pricing of a mammography-specific version of the professional PACS workstation. The RUC also included these new equipment items in its recommendations for the CY 2017 PFS rulemaking cycle.

Based on our analysis of submitted invoices, we proposed to price the professional PACS workstation (ED053) at $14,616.93. We did not propose a change in price for the current technical PACS workstation (ED050), which will remain at a price of $5,557.00.

The price of the professional PACS workstation is based upon individual invoices submitted for the cost of a PC Tower ($1531.52), a pair of 3 MP monitors ($10,500.00 in total), a keyboard and mouse ($84.95), a UPS power backup devices for TNP ($1098.00), and a switch for PACS monitors/workstations ($1402.46).

We proposed to add the professional PACS workstation to many CPT codes in the 70000 series that use the current technical PACS workstation (ED050) and include professional work for which such a workstation would be used. We did not propose to add the equipment item to add-on codes since the base codes would include minutes for the item. We also did not propose to add the item to codes that are therapeutic in nature, as the professional PACS workstation is intended for use in diagnostic services. We therefore did not propose to add the item to codes in the Radiation Therapy section (77261 through 77799) or the Nuclear Medicine Cardiology section (78414-78499). We also did not propose to add the item to image guidance codes where the dominant provider is not a radiologist (77002, 77011, 77071, 77077, and 77081) according to the most recent year of claims data, since we believe a single workstation would be more typical in those cases. We identified approximately 426 codes to which we proposed to add a professional PACS workstation. Please see Table 4 for the full list of affected codes.

For the professional PACS workstation, we proposed to assign equipment time equal to the intraservice work time plus half of the preservice work time associated with the codes, since the work time generally reflects the time associated with the professional interpretation. We proposed half of the preservice work time for the professional PACS workstation because we do not believe that the practitioner would typically spend all of the preservice work period using the equipment. For older codes that do not have a breakdown of physician work time by service period, and only have an overall physician work time, we proposed to use half the total work time as an approximation of the intraservice work time plus one half of the preservice work time. In our review of services that contained an existing PACS workstation and had a breakdown of physician work time, we found that half of the total time was a reasonable approximation for the value of intraservice work time plus one half of preservice work time where no such breakdown existed. We also considered using an equipment time formula of the physician intraservice time plus 1 minute (as a stand-in for the physician preservice work time). We solicited public comment on the most accurate equipment time formula for the professional PACS workstation.

We solicited public comment on the proposed list of codes that would incorporate the professional PACS workstation. We were interested in public comment on the codes for which a professional PACS workstation should be included, and whether one of these professional workstations should be included for codes outside the 70000 series. In cases within the 70000 series where radiologists are not the typical specialty reporting the code, such as CPT codes 77002 and 77011, we asked whether it would be appropriate to add one of the professional PACS workstations to these services.

The following is a summary of the comments we received on the proposed addition of the professional PACS workstation, the pricing of the workstation, the list of codes that would incorporate the professional PACS workstation, and the equipment minutes to assign to the workstation.

Comment:

Commenters supported the general concept of the professional PACS workstation and its addition to the proposed list of codes. Commenters stated that the professional PACS workstation is an essential component of diagnostic imaging procedures due to the switch from film to digital technology, and the professional workstation would be an appropriate inclusion as a direct PE input for these services.

Response:

We appreciate the support from the commenters for the addition of the professional PACS workstation.

Comment:

Many commenters addressed the subject of the proper pricing of the professional PACS workstation. Several commenters requested that CMS increase the price of the workstation to include a third and fourth monitor (for speech recognition) priced at $1,715.98, an Admin Monitor (the extra working monitor) priced at $279.27, and a Powerscribe Microphone priced at $424.00. Commenters stated that speech recognition equipment is typical for a professional PACS workstation, and that physicians typically employed a monitor with greater resolution than what would be typically used for other purposes (such as for electronic health records). Related comments contended that the proposed pricing of the workstation remained significantly less than what the average imaging facility spends on PACS technology. Other commenters disagreed with these sentiments and supported the pricing of the professional PACS workstation at the proposed rate of $14,616.93.

Response:

We appreciate the feedback from the commenters regarding the proper pricing of the professional PACS workstation. When proposing a price for the professional PACS workstation, we did not include the cost of the additional monitors and the Powerscribe microphone because these items represent indirect costs under the established PE methodology and the functionality would unlikely have been included in the previously existing film inputs the professional PACS workstation is replacing. Generally, we believe that monitors used to access electronic health records and microphones used for dictation are often used by practitioners who furnish a range a PFS services, are not allocable to particular services or patients, and therefore, are included in the administrative cost category of practice expense, and therefore, are allocated to

individual codes through indirect PE RVUs.

Comment:

Many commenters stated that CMS should expand the list of codes with a professional PACS workstation. Commenters generally focused on three of the criteria proposed by CMS: The exclusion of the workstation from add-on services, the exclusion of therapeutic (as opposed to diagnostic) services, and the exclusion of codes outside the 70000 series. Commenters stated that add-on codes should be incorporated into the professional PACS workstation list, as they require additional time to perform, and therefore, more time with the technical PACS workstation for the technician, as well as additional time for the review and interpretation performed by the physician using the professional PACS workstation. Commenters also indicated that many therapeutic services would also require a professional PACS workstation, and disagreed with limiting the workstation to diagnostic services only. Finally, commenters supplied extensive lists of additional codes, both inside and outside of the 70000 series, where they stated that the inclusion of a professional PACS workstation was warranted.

Response:

We appreciate the feedback from the commenters in helping to define the criteria for inclusion of the professional PACS workstation, along with more specific recommendations about which codes should include the workstation. After considering these comments, we will be adding the professional PACS workstation to additional suggested codes. We took the following into account in making these additions:

• We did not add the professional PACS workstation to any code that currently lacks a technical PACS workstation (ED050) or lacks a work RVU. We continue to believe that procedures which do not include a technical workstation, or do not have physician work, would not require a professional workstation.

• We did not add the professional PACS workstation to add-on codes. Because the base codes include equipment minutes for the workstation, we continue to believe it would be duplicative to add additional equipment time for the professional PACS workstation in the add-on code.

• We agree with commenters that because the clinical utility of the PACS workstation is not necessarily limited to diagnostic services, there may be therapeutic codes where it would be reasonable to assume its use to be typical. We believe that in these specific cases, the use of the professional PACS workstation has been established to be typical for the code in question by the specialties furnishing the service, as a result of the evidence provided in the comments submitted in response to our proposal. We have added the workstation to many of the therapeutic codes requested by commenters, specifically codes listed outside the 70000 series, where use of the professional PACS station is typical.

• Within the 70000 series, we reviewed each of the codes submitted by commenters. Most of these codes did not fall within one of the categories where we proposed to add the professional PACS workstation in the proposed rule: They lacked a technical PACS workstation, they were add-on codes, or they were diagnostic procedures for which radiology is not the dominant specialty providing the service. We continue to believe that the professional PACS workstation should not be added to codes that do not fall into these categories, since we believe that the image must be captured in order to for it to be interpreted, that the use of the PACS workstation in the base code reported with add-on codes would accurately capture the associated resources used, and that the PACS professional workstation is only typically used by radiologists. Based on comments, we are adding the professional workstation to only one code in the 70000 series, CPT code 73562, as it includes a technical PACS workstation, is not an add-on code, and is typically furnished by radiologists.

• For codes in the 80000 and 90000 series, we are concerned about whether it is appropriate to include the technical PACS workstation into many of these services. PACS workstations were created for imaging purposes, but many of these services that include a technical PACS workstation do not appear to make use of imaging. Although we are not removing the technical PACS workstation from these codes at this time, we do not believe that a professional PACS workstation should be added to these procedures. We will consider the inclusion of both PACS workstations for future rulemaking.

Comment:

Several commenters addressed the topic of equipment time for the professional PACS workstation. Commenters requested that CMS allocate the entire preservice physician work time associated with the codes, as opposed to the proposed half of the preservice physician work time. Commenters stated that although certain physician work activities in the preservice period may not directly involve the professional workstation, even when the physician is engaged in these parallel work activities, the professional workstation is “open” to the patient at hand and cannot be used for other patients. Commenters also disagreed with the proposal to use half the total time for older codes in which there is no separation of preservice and intraservice period times. Commenters stated that using the entire physician work time would be the best option since there is no accurate way to estimate the service period times, and that it would avoid potential confusion in equipment formulas in the future.

Response:

We continue to believe that the professional PACS workstation is more accurately assigned equipment time by using half of the preservice physician work time rather than the full preservice physician work time. As we stated in the proposed rule, we do not believe that the practitioner would typically spend all of the preservice work period using the equipment. Commenters agreed that the physician may not need the professional workstation for the full preservice period, but contended that the equipment would be “open” and unavailable for use by other physicians or for other patients. We disagree with this argument on clinical practice and methodological grounds. We do not agree that the professional PACS workstation would necessarily be unavailable for use by other physicians when the physician in question is not using the machine, Additionally, we note that the number of minutes assigned to the predecessor film inputs did not generally include the full number of pre-service minutes. Finally, our PE methodology is based on the resources typically used to furnish the procedure, and we typically assign time for equipment items based on when it cannot be used by another practitioner or for another patient due to its use in the given procedure. We continue to believe that half of the preservice physician work time (along with the full physician intraservice work time) is a good approximation of the time in the preservice period that the professional PACS workstation will typically be in use. As we stated in the proposed rule, we do not believe that the practitioner would typically spend all of the preservice time using the equipment, and would also spend preservice time on other activities, such as scrubbing and dressing, for example.

For older codes where there is no breakdown of work time values by service period, we do not agree with commenters that the professional PACS workstation should use the total work time. The comments do not provide a

persuasive rationale for using the total work time instead of our proposed alternative, developed for consistency with codes for which we do have work time breakdowns by service period. Therefore, in the absence of service period work time detail, we continue to believe that half of the total work time is a reasonable proxy for the small number of old codes affected by this issue. We are not concerned about the potential for confusion in the future with differing equipment time formulas, as the addition of the professional PACS workstation to these codes is a one-time inclusion that will not affect the future review of this equipment.

Finally, we believe that there is a difference in the pattern of equipment usage for the professional PACS workstation between diagnostic and therapeutic codes. Generally, the intraservice work for diagnostic imaging codes describes the review of images, while the intraservice work for therapeutic services describes a broader range of activities. Therefore, although we used an equipment formula of half the preservice physician work time and the full intraservice physician work time for the diagnostic procedures, we do not believe that this same time formula would be appropriate for therapeutic procedures since the professional PACS workstation would not be in use during the intraservice portion of these services. Therefore, we will use an equipment time formula of half the preservice physician work time and half the postservice physician work time for the therapeutic codes to which we are adding a professional PACS workstation, which we believe is more consistent with the descriptions of work for the codes in question. Consistent with our ongoing efforts to improve payment accuracy for these costs, we seek recommendations from the RUC and other stakeholders on a more precise allocation methodology for equipment minutes for these procedures.

After consideration of comments received, we are finalizing our proposal to add a professional PACS workstation (ED053) to the equipment database and price it at the proposed rate of $14,616.93. We are dividing the codes that will contain a professional PACS workstation into diagnostic and therapeutic categories. For diagnostic codes, we are assigning equipment minutes equal to half the preservice physician work time and the full intraservice physician work time. For the relatively smaller group of diagnostic codes with no service period time breakdown, we are assigning equipment time equal to half of the total physician work time. For therapeutic codes, we are assigning equipment minutes equal to half the preservice physician work time and half the postservice physician work time for the second group. There are no therapeutic codes on our current list which lack a service period time breakdown. The following table lists all of the codes that include a professional PACS workstation for CY 2017, along with the equipment minutes for the workstation.

Table 4—Codes With Professional PACS Workstation in the Direct PE Input Database

HCPCS

Procedure type

ED053

Minutes

10030

Therapeutic

10035

Therapeutic

19081

Therapeutic

19083

Therapeutic

19085

Therapeutic

19281

Therapeutic

19283

Therapeutic

19285

Therapeutic

19287

Therapeutic

22510

Therapeutic

22511

Therapeutic

22513

Therapeutic

22514

Therapeutic

32555

Therapeutic

32557

Therapeutic

36221

Therapeutic

36222

Therapeutic

36223

Therapeutic

36224

Therapeutic

36225

Therapeutic

36226

Therapeutic

36251

Therapeutic

36252

Therapeutic

36253

Therapeutic

36254

Therapeutic

36598

Therapeutic

37184

Therapeutic

37187

Therapeutic

37188

Therapeutic

37191

Therapeutic

37192

Therapeutic

37193

Therapeutic

37197

Therapeutic

37220

Therapeutic

37221

Therapeutic

37224

Therapeutic

37225

Therapeutic

37226

Therapeutic

37227

Therapeutic

37228

Therapeutic

37229

Therapeutic

37230

Therapeutic

37231

Therapeutic

37236

Therapeutic

37238

Therapeutic

37241

Therapeutic

37242

Therapeutic

37243

Therapeutic

37244

Therapeutic

47531

Therapeutic

47532

Therapeutic

47533

Therapeutic

47534

Therapeutic

47535

Therapeutic

47536

Therapeutic

47537

Therapeutic

47538

Therapeutic

47539

Therapeutic

47540

Therapeutic

47541

Therapeutic

49083

Therapeutic

49405

Therapeutic

49406

Therapeutic

49407

Therapeutic

49418

Therapeutic

49440

Therapeutic

49441

Therapeutic

49442

Therapeutic

49446

Therapeutic

49450

Therapeutic

49451

Therapeutic

49452

Therapeutic

49460

Therapeutic

49465

Therapeutic

50382

Therapeutic

50384

Therapeutic

50385

Therapeutic

50386

Therapeutic

50387

Therapeutic

50389

Therapeutic

50430

Therapeutic

50431

Therapeutic

50432

Therapeutic

50433

Therapeutic

50434

Therapeutic

50435

Therapeutic

50693

Therapeutic

50694

Therapeutic

50695

Therapeutic

58340

Therapeutic

62302

Therapeutic

62303

Therapeutic

62304

Therapeutic

62305

Therapeutic

70015

Diagnostic

70030

Diagnostic

70100

Diagnostic

70110

Diagnostic

70120

Diagnostic

70130

Diagnostic

70134

Diagnostic

70140

Diagnostic

70150

Diagnostic

70160

Diagnostic

70190

Diagnostic

70200

Diagnostic

70210

Diagnostic

70220

Diagnostic

70240

Diagnostic

70250

Diagnostic

70260

Diagnostic

70300

Diagnostic

70310

Diagnostic

70320

Diagnostic

70328

Diagnostic

70330

Diagnostic

70332

Diagnostic

70336

Diagnostic

70350

Diagnostic

70355

Diagnostic

70360

Diagnostic

70370

Diagnostic

70371

Diagnostic

70380

Diagnostic

70390

Diagnostic

70450

Diagnostic

70460

Diagnostic

70470

Diagnostic

70480

Diagnostic

70481

Diagnostic

70482

Diagnostic

70490

Diagnostic

70491

Diagnostic

70492

Diagnostic

70540

Diagnostic

70542

Diagnostic

70543

Diagnostic

70544

Diagnostic

70545

Diagnostic

70546

Diagnostic

70547

Diagnostic

70548

Diagnostic

70549

Diagnostic

70551

Diagnostic

70552

Diagnostic

70553

Diagnostic

70554

Diagnostic

71010

Diagnostic

71015

Diagnostic

71020

Diagnostic

71021

Diagnostic

71022

Diagnostic

71023

Diagnostic

71030

Diagnostic

71034

Diagnostic

71035

Diagnostic

71100

Diagnostic

71101

Diagnostic

71110

Diagnostic

71111

Diagnostic

71120

Diagnostic

71130

Diagnostic

71250

Diagnostic

71260

Diagnostic

71270

Diagnostic

71275

Diagnostic

71550

Diagnostic

71551

Diagnostic

71552

Diagnostic

71555

Diagnostic

72020

Diagnostic

72040

Diagnostic

72050

Diagnostic

72052

Diagnostic

72070

Diagnostic

72072

Diagnostic

72074

Diagnostic

72080

Diagnostic

72081

Diagnostic

72082

Diagnostic

72083

Diagnostic

72084

Diagnostic

72100

Diagnostic

72110

Diagnostic

72114

Diagnostic

72120

Diagnostic

72125

Diagnostic

72126

Diagnostic

72127

Diagnostic

72128

Diagnostic

72129

Diagnostic

72130

Diagnostic

72131

Diagnostic

72132

Diagnostic

72133

Diagnostic

72141

Diagnostic

72142

Diagnostic

72146

Diagnostic

72147

Diagnostic

72148

Diagnostic

72149

Diagnostic

72156

Diagnostic

72157

Diagnostic

72158

Diagnostic

72159

Diagnostic

72170

Diagnostic

72190

Diagnostic

72191

Diagnostic

72192

Diagnostic

72193

Diagnostic

72194

Diagnostic

72195

Diagnostic

72196

Diagnostic

72197

Diagnostic

72198

Diagnostic

72200

Diagnostic

72202

Diagnostic

72220

Diagnostic

72240

Diagnostic

72255

Diagnostic

72265

Diagnostic

72270

Diagnostic

72275

Diagnostic

72285

Diagnostic

72295

Diagnostic

73000

Diagnostic

73010

Diagnostic

73020

Diagnostic

73030

Diagnostic

73040

Diagnostic

73050

Diagnostic

73060

Diagnostic

73070

Diagnostic

73080

Diagnostic

73085

Diagnostic

73090

Diagnostic

73092

Diagnostic

73100

Diagnostic

73110

Diagnostic

73115

Diagnostic

73120

Diagnostic

73130

Diagnostic

73140

Diagnostic

73200

Diagnostic

73201

Diagnostic

73202

Diagnostic

73206

Diagnostic

73218

Diagnostic

73219

Diagnostic

73220

Diagnostic

73221

Diagnostic

73222

Diagnostic

73223

Diagnostic

73225

Diagnostic

73501

Diagnostic

73502

Diagnostic

73503

Diagnostic

73521

Diagnostic

73522

Diagnostic

73523

Diagnostic

73525

Diagnostic

73551

Diagnostic

73552

Diagnostic

73560

Diagnostic

73562

Diagnostic

73564

Diagnostic

73565

Diagnostic

73580

Diagnostic

73590

Diagnostic

73592

Diagnostic

73600

Diagnostic

73610

Diagnostic

73615

Diagnostic

73620

Diagnostic

73630

Diagnostic

73650

Diagnostic

73660

Diagnostic

73700

Diagnostic

73701

Diagnostic

73702

Diagnostic

73706

Diagnostic

73718

Diagnostic

73719

Diagnostic

73720

Diagnostic

73721

Diagnostic

73722

Diagnostic

73723

Diagnostic

73725

Diagnostic

74000

Diagnostic

74010

Diagnostic

74020

Diagnostic

74022

Diagnostic

74150

Diagnostic

74160

Diagnostic

74170

Diagnostic

74174

Diagnostic

74175

Diagnostic

74176

Diagnostic

74177

Diagnostic

74178

Diagnostic

74181

Diagnostic

74182

Diagnostic

74183

Diagnostic

74185

Diagnostic

74210

Diagnostic

74220

Diagnostic

74230

Diagnostic

74240

Diagnostic

74241

Diagnostic

74245

Diagnostic

74246

Diagnostic

74247

Diagnostic

74249

Diagnostic

74250

Diagnostic

74251

Diagnostic

74260

Diagnostic

74261

Diagnostic

74262

Diagnostic

74263

Diagnostic

74270

Diagnostic

74280

Diagnostic

74283

Diagnostic

74290

Diagnostic

74400

Diagnostic

74410

Diagnostic

74415

Diagnostic

74430

Diagnostic

74440

Diagnostic

74455

Diagnostic

74485

Diagnostic

74710

Diagnostic

74712

Diagnostic

74740

Diagnostic

75557

Diagnostic

75559

Diagnostic

75561

Diagnostic

75563

Diagnostic

75571

Diagnostic

75572

Diagnostic

75573

Diagnostic

75574

Diagnostic

75600

Diagnostic

75605

Diagnostic

75625

Diagnostic

75630

Diagnostic

75635

Diagnostic

75658

Diagnostic

75705

Diagnostic

75710

Diagnostic

75716

Diagnostic

75726

Diagnostic

75731

Diagnostic

75733

Diagnostic

75736

Diagnostic

75741

Diagnostic

75743

Diagnostic

75746

Diagnostic

75756

Diagnostic

75791

Diagnostic

75809

Diagnostic

75820

Diagnostic

75822

Diagnostic

75825

Diagnostic

75827

Diagnostic

75831

Diagnostic

75833

Diagnostic

75840

Diagnostic

75842

Diagnostic

75860

Diagnostic

75870

Diagnostic

75872

Diagnostic

75880

Diagnostic

75885

Diagnostic

75887

Diagnostic

75889

Diagnostic

75891

Diagnostic

75893

Diagnostic

75901

Diagnostic

75902

Diagnostic

75962

Diagnostic

75966

Diagnostic

75978

Diagnostic

75984

Diagnostic

75989

Diagnostic

76000

Diagnostic

76010

Diagnostic

76080

Diagnostic

76098

Diagnostic

76100

Diagnostic

76101

Diagnostic

76102

Diagnostic

76120

Diagnostic

76376

Diagnostic

76380

Diagnostic

76390

Diagnostic

76506

Diagnostic

76536

Diagnostic

76604

Diagnostic

76700

Diagnostic

76705

Diagnostic

76706

Diagnostic

76770

Diagnostic

76775

Diagnostic

76776

Diagnostic

76800

Diagnostic

76801

Diagnostic

76805

Diagnostic

76811

Diagnostic

76813

Diagnostic

76815

Diagnostic

76816

Diagnostic

76817

Diagnostic

76818

Diagnostic

76819

Diagnostic

76820

Diagnostic

76821

Diagnostic

76825

Diagnostic

76826

Diagnostic

76830

Diagnostic

76831

Diagnostic

76856

Diagnostic

76857

Diagnostic

76870

Diagnostic

76872

Diagnostic

76873

Diagnostic

76881

Diagnostic

76885

Diagnostic

76886

Diagnostic

76936

Diagnostic

76942

Diagnostic

76970

Diagnostic

77012

Diagnostic

77014

Diagnostic

77021

Diagnostic

77053

Diagnostic

77054

Diagnostic

77058

Diagnostic

77059

Diagnostic

77072

Diagnostic

77074

Diagnostic

77075

Diagnostic

77076

Diagnostic

77084

Diagnostic

78012

Diagnostic

78013

Diagnostic

78014

Diagnostic

78015

Diagnostic

78016

Diagnostic

78018

Diagnostic

78070

Diagnostic

78071

Diagnostic

78072

Diagnostic

78075

Diagnostic

78102

Diagnostic

78103

Diagnostic

78104

Diagnostic

78135

Diagnostic

78140

Diagnostic

78185

Diagnostic

78190

Diagnostic

78195

Diagnostic

78201

Diagnostic

78202

Diagnostic

78205

Diagnostic

78206

Diagnostic

78215

Diagnostic

78216

Diagnostic

78226

Diagnostic

78227

Diagnostic

78230

Diagnostic

78231

Diagnostic

78232

Diagnostic

78258

Diagnostic

78261

Diagnostic

78262

Diagnostic

78264

Diagnostic

78265

Diagnostic

78266

Diagnostic

78278

Diagnostic

78290

Diagnostic

78291

Diagnostic

78300

Diagnostic

78305

Diagnostic

78306

Diagnostic

78315

Diagnostic

78320

Diagnostic

78579

Diagnostic

78580

Diagnostic

78582

Diagnostic

78597

Diagnostic

78598

Diagnostic

78600

Diagnostic

78601

Diagnostic

78605

Diagnostic

78606

Diagnostic

78607

Diagnostic

78610

Diagnostic

78630

Diagnostic

78635

Diagnostic

78645

Diagnostic

78647

Diagnostic

78650

Diagnostic

78660

Diagnostic

78700

Diagnostic

78701

Diagnostic

78707

Diagnostic

78708

Diagnostic

78709

Diagnostic

78710

Diagnostic

78740

Diagnostic

78761

Diagnostic

78800

Diagnostic

78801

Diagnostic

78802

Diagnostic

78803

Diagnostic

78804

Diagnostic

78805

Diagnostic

78806

Diagnostic

78807

Diagnostic

79440

Diagnostic

G0106

Diagnostic

G0120

Diagnostic

G0297

Diagnostic

G0365

Diagnostic

G0389

Diagnostic

(2) Standardization of Clinical Labor Tasks

As we noted in the CY 2015 PFS final rule (79 FR 67640-67641), we continue to make improvements to the direct PE input database to provide the number of clinical labor minutes assigned for each task for every code in the database instead of only including the number of

clinical labor minutes for the preservice, service, and postservice periods for each code. In addition to increasing the transparency of the information used to set PE RVUs, this improvement would allow us to compare clinical labor times for activities associated with services across the PFS, which we believe is important to maintaining the relativity of the direct PE inputs. This information would facilitate the identification of the usual numbers of minutes for clinical labor tasks and the identification of exceptions to the usual values. It would also allow for greater transparency and consistency in the assignment of equipment minutes based on clinical labor times. Finally, we believe that the information can be useful in maintaining standard times for particular clinical labor tasks that can be applied consistently to many codes as they are valued over several years, similar in principle to the use of physician preservice time packages. We believe such standards would provide greater consistency among codes that share the same clinical labor tasks and could improve relativity of values among codes. For example, as medical practice and technologies change over time, changes in the standards could be updated simultaneously for all codes with the applicable clinical labor tasks, instead of waiting for individual codes to be reviewed.

In the following paragraphs, we address a series of issues related to clinical labor tasks, particularly relevant to services currently being reviewed under the misvalued code initiative.

(a) Clinical Labor Tasks Associated With Digital Imaging

In CY 2015 PFS rulemaking, we noted that the RUC recommendation regarding inputs for digital imaging services indicated that, as each code is reviewed under the misvalued code initiative, the clinical labor tasks associated with digital technology (instead of film) would need to be addressed. When we reviewed that recommendation, we did not have the capability of assigning standard clinical labor times for the hundreds of individual codes since the direct PE input database did not previously allow for comprehensive adjustments for clinical labor times based on particular clinical labor tasks. Therefore, consistent with the recommendation, we proposed to remove film-based supply and equipment items but maintain clinical labor minutes that were assigned based on film technology.

As noted in the paragraphs above, we continue to improve the direct PE input database by specifying for each code the minutes associated with each clinical labor task. Once completed, this work would allow adjustments to be made to minutes assigned to particular clinical labor tasks related to digital technology that occur in multiple codes, consistent with the changes that were made to individual supply and equipment items. In the meantime, we believe it would be appropriate to establish standard times for clinical labor tasks associated with all digital imaging services for purposes of reviewing individual services at present, and for possible broad-based standardization once the changes to the direct PE input database facilitate our ability to adjust time across services. During the CY 2016 PFS rulemaking cycle, we proposed appropriate standard minutes for five different clinical labor tasks associated with services that use digital imaging technology. In the CY 2016 PFS final rule with comment period (80 FR 70901), we finalized appropriate standard minutes for four of those five activities, which are listed in Table 5.

Table 5—Clinical Labor Tasks Associated With Digital Imaging Technology

Clinical labor task

Typical

minutes

Availability of prior images confirmed

Patient clinical information and questionnaire reviewed by technologist, order from physician confirmed and exam protocoled by radiologist

Review examination with interpreting MD

Exam documents scanned into PACS. Exam completed in RIS system to generate billing process and to populate images into Radiologist work queue

We did not finalize standard minutes for the activity “Technologist QC's images in PACS, checking for all images, reformats, and dose page.” We agreed with commenters that this task may require a variable length of time depending on the number of images to be reviewed. We stated that it may be appropriate to establish several different standard times for this clinical labor task for a low/medium/high quantity of images to be reviewed, in the same fashion that the clinical labor assigned to clean a surgical instrument package has two different standard times depending on the use of a basic pack (10 minutes) or a medium pack (30 minutes). We solicited public comment and feedback on this subject, with the anticipation of including a proposal in the CY 2017 proposed rule.

We received many comments suggesting that this clinical labor activity should not have a standard time value. Commenters stated that the number of minutes varies significantly for different imaging modalities; and the time is not simply based on the quantity of images to be reviewed, but also the complexity of the images. The commenters recommended that time for this clinical labor activity should be assigned on a code by code basis. We agree with the commenters that the amount of clinical labor needed to check images in a PACS workstation may vary depending on the service. However, we do not believe that this precludes the possibility of establishing standards for clinical labor tasks as we have done in the past by creating multiple standard times, for example, those assigned to cleaning different kinds of scopes. We continue to believe that the use of clinical labor standards provides greater consistency among codes that share the same clinical labor tasks and can improve relativity of values among codes. We proposed to establish a range of appropriate standard minutes for the clinical labor activity, “Technologist QCs images in PACS, checking for all images, reformats, and dose page.” These standard minutes will be applied to new and revised codes that make use of this clinical labor activity when they are reviewed by us for valuation. We proposed 2 minutes as the standard for the simple case, 3 minutes as the standard for the intermediate case, and 4 minutes as the standard for the complex case. We proposed the simple case of 2 minutes as the standard for the typical procedure code involving routine use of imaging. These values are based upon a review of the existing minutes assigned for this clinical labor activity; we have determined that 2 minutes is the

duration for most services and a small number of codes with more complex forms of digital imaging have higher values. We proposed to use 2 minutes for services involving routine X-rays (simple), 3 minutes for services involving CTs and MRIs (intermediate), and 4 minutes for the most highly complex services, which would exceed these more typical cases. We solicited comments regarding the most accurate category—simple, intermediate, or complex for existing codes, and in particular what criteria might be used to identify complex cases systematically.

The following is summary of the comments we received regarding the ongoing standardization of clinical labor tasks, and our specific proposal regarding the clinical labor task, “Technologist QCs images in PACS, checking for all images, reformats, and dose page.”

Comment:

Many commenters restated their opposition to the principle of establishing standard values for clinical labor tasks. Commenters contended that clinical labor tasks were highly variable across different specialties, that the standardization process would disrupt the relativity of direct PE inputs across the PFS, and that the proposed standard times were too low and underestimated the staffing time needed to carry out the tasks in question. Commenters stressed that each code should be evaluated on an individual basis. One commenter expressed support for the overall concept regarding efforts to streamline the time for clinical labor activities.

Response:

We note the objections raised by the commenters to the process of standardizing time values for clinical labor tasks. However, as we have stated previously, we believe the establishment of standards can provide greater consistency among codes that share the same clinical labor tasks, as well as improve relativity of values among codes. We also note that we do evaluate each code on an individual basis for direct PE inputs, and establishing clinical labor standards assists in that process of individual review. We continue to allow clinical labor times above the standard values for individual services, provided that there is a compelling rationale to explain why that particular service requires additional clinical labor time above and beyond the standard. We believe that establishing a range of standard minutes for this particular digital imaging clinical labor task will provide clarity and help maintain relativity across a wide range of imaging services.

Comment:

One commenter requested a broad study of the actual clinical labor times associated with digital imaging.

Response:

We appreciate the importance of incorporating robust, auditable, and routinely updated data sources for use in the determination of RVUs. We welcome stakeholder information on the availability of such data, while we continue to consider the best means of acquiring such data.

Comment:

Several commenters addressed our specific proposal for the clinical labor task, “Technologist QCs images in PACS, checking for all images, reformats, and dose page.” Commenters requested that, short of no standard times at all, the establishment of categories for this clinical labor task should be as follows: Simple (2 min); intermediate (3 min), complex (4 min) and highly complex (5 min).

Response:

We appreciate the suggestion from the commenters to adopt a categorization system very similar to our proposal, with the addition of an extra category for highly complex services valued at 5 minutes. We agree with this addition to our proposal, as it will allow for additional specificity in classifying different types of imaging services, including those that are unusually complex. However, we note that we proposed to define the simple case of 2 minutes as the standard for the typical procedure code involving routine use of imaging, and we believe only a small number of codes with more complex forms of digital imaging would typically involve more time for the task. We proposed to use 2 minutes for services involving routine X-rays (the simple case), and 3 minutes for services involving CTs and MRIs (the intermediate case). We seek recommendations from the RUC and other stakeholders and we intend to request feedback from commenters through future rulemaking to assist in identifying what we believe would be the small number of services that fall into the complex (4 min) and highly complex (5 min) categories, and the specific basis used to set the two categories apart from one another. In the meantime, we will consider individual codes on a case by case basis for this clinical labor task.

After considering the comments received, we are finalizing a range of appropriate standard minutes for the clinical labor activity, “Technologist QCs images in PACS, checking for all images, reformats, and dose page” as follows: Simple (2 min); intermediate (3 min), complex (4 min) and highly complex (5 min). We are also finalizing our criteria for determining the simple and intermediate categories as proposed.

(b) Pathology Clinical Labor Tasks

As with the clinical labor tasks associated with digital imaging, many of the currently assigned times for the specialized clinical labor tasks associated with pathology services are not consistent across codes. In reviewing past RUC recommendations for pathology services, we have not identified information that supports the judgment that the same tasks take significantly more or less time depending on the individual service for which they are performed, especially given the high degree of specificity with which the tasks are described. We continue to believe that, in general, a clinical labor task will tend to take the same amount of time to perform for one individual service as the same clinical labor task when it is performed in a clinically similar service.

Therefore, we developed standard times for clinical labor tasks that we have used in finalizing direct PE inputs in recent years, starting in the CY 2012 PFS final rule with comment period (76 FR 73213). These times were based on our review and assessment of the current times included for these clinical labor tasks in the direct PE input database. We proposed in the CY 2016 PFS proposed rule to establish standard times for a list of 17 clinical labor tasks related to pathology services, and solicited public feedback regarding our proposed standards. Many commenters stated in response to our proposal that they did not support the standardization of clinical labor activities across pathology services. Commenters stated that establishing a single standard time for each clinical labor task was infeasible due to the differences in batch size or number of blocks across different pathology procedures. Several commenters indicated that it might be possible to standardize across codes with the same batch sizes, and urged us to consider pathology-specific details, such as batch size and block number, in the creation of any future standard times for clinical labor tasks related to pathology services.

As we stated in the CY 2016 PFS proposed rule, we developed the proposed standard times based on our review and assessment of the current times included for these clinical labor tasks in the direct PE input database. We believe that, generally speaking, clinical labor tasks with the same description are comparable across different pathology procedures. We believe this to be true based on the comparability of clinical labor tasks in

non-pathology services, as well as the high degree of specificity with which most clinical labor tasks for pathology services are described relative to clinical labor tasks associated with other PFS services. We concurred with commenters that accurate clinical labor times for pathology codes may be dependent on the number of blocks or batch size typically used for each individual service. However, we also believe that it is appropriate and feasible to establish “per block” standards or standards varied by batch size assumptions for many clinical labor activities that would be comparable across a wide range of individual services. We have received detailed information regarding batch size and number of blocks during review of individual pathology services on an intermittent basis in the past. We requested regular submission of these details on the PE worksheets supplied by the RUC as part of the review process for pathology services, as a means to assist in the determination of the most accurate direct PE inputs.

We also stated our belief that many of the clinical labor activities for which we proposed to establish standard times were tasks that do not depend on number of blocks or batch size. Clinical labor activities such as “Clean room/equipment following procedure” and “Dispose of remaining specimens” would typically remain standard across different services without varying by block number or batch size, with the understanding that additional time may be required above the standard value for a clinical labor task that is part of an unusually complex or difficult service. As a result, we ultimately finalized standard times for 6 of the 17 proposed clinical labor activities in the CY 2016 final rule with comment period (80 FR 70902). We have listed the finalized standard times in Table 6. We are taking no further action on the remaining 11 clinical labor activities in this final rule, pending further action by the RUC (see below).

Table 6—Standard Times for Clinical Labor Tasks Associated With Pathology Services

Clinical labor task

Standard

clinical labor

time

(minutes)

Accession specimen/prepare for examination

Assemble and deliver slides with paperwork to pathologists

0.5

Assemble other light microscopy slides, open nerve biopsy slides, and clinical history, and present to pathologist to prepare clinical pathologic interpretation

0.5

Clean room/equipment following procedure (including any equipment maintenance that must be done after the procedure)

Dispose of remaining specimens, spent chemicals/other consumables, and hazardous waste

Prepare, pack and transport specimens and records for in-house storage and external storage (where applicable)

We remain committed to the process of establishing standard clinical labor times for tasks associated with pathology services. This may include establishing standards on a per-block or per-batch basis, as we indicated during the previous rulemaking cycle. However, we are aware that the PE Subcommittee of the RUC is currently working to standardize the pathology clinical labor activities they use in making their recommendations. We believe the RUC's efforts to narrow the current list of several hundred pathology clinical labor tasks to a more manageable number through the consolidation of duplicative or highly similar activities into a single description may serve PFS relativity and facilitate greater transparency in PFS ratesetting. We also believe that the RUC's standardization of pathology clinical labor tasks would facilitate our capacity to establish standard times for pathology clinical labor tasks in future rulemaking. Therefore, we did not propose any additional changes to clinical labor tasks associated with pathology services.

(3) Equipment Recommendations for Scope Systems

During our routine reviews of direct PE input recommendations, we have regularly found unexplained inconsistencies involving the use of scopes and the video systems associated with them. Some of the scopes include video systems bundled into the equipment item, some of them include scope accessories as part of their price, and some of them are standalone scopes with no other equipment included. It is not always clear which equipment items related to scopes fall into which of these categories. We have also frequently found anomalies in the equipment recommendations, with equipment items that consist of a scope and video system bundle recommended, along with a separate scope video system. Based on our review, the variations do not appear to be consistent with the different code descriptions.

To promote appropriate relativity among the services and facilitate the transparency of our review process, during review of recommended direct PE inputs for the CY 2017 PFS proposed rule, we developed a structure that separates the scope and the associated video system as distinct equipment items for each code. Under this approach, we proposed standalone prices for each scope, and separate prices for the video systems that are used with scopes. We would define the scope video system as including: (1) A monitor; (2) a processor; (3) a form of digital capture; (4) a cart; and (5) a printer. We believe that these equipment components represent the typical case for a scope video system. Our model for this system is the “video system, endoscopy (processor, digital capture, monitor, printer, cart)” equipment item (ES031), which we proposed to re-price as part of this separate pricing approach. We obtained current pricing invoices for the endoscopy video system as part of our investigation of these issues involving scopes, which we proposed to use for this re-pricing. We understand that there may be other accessories associated with the use of scopes; we proposed to separately price any scope accessories, and individually evaluate their inclusion or exclusion as direct PE inputs for particular codes as usual under our current policy based on whether they are typically used in furnishing the services described by the particular codes.

We also proposed standardizing refinements to the way scopes have been defined in the direct PE input database. We believe that there are four general types of scopes: Non-video scopes; flexible scopes; semi-rigid scopes, and rigid scopes. Flexible scopes, semi-rigid scopes, and rigid scopes would typically be paired with one of the video scope systems, while the non-video scopes would not. The

flexible scopes can be further divided into diagnostic (or non-channeled) and therapeutic (or channeled) scopes. We proposed to identify for each anatomical application: (1) A rigid scope; (2) a semi-rigid scope; (3) a non-video flexible scope; (4) a non-channeled flexible video scope; and (5) a channeled flexible video scope. We proposed to classify the existing scopes in our direct PE database under this classification system, to improve the transparency of our review process and improve appropriate relativity among the services. We plan to propose input prices for these equipment items through future rulemaking.

We proposed these changes only for the reviewed codes that make use of scopes; this applies to the codes in the Flexible Laryngoscope family (CPT codes 31572, 31573, 31574, 31575, 31576, 31577, 31578, 31579) (see section II.L) and the Laryngoplasty family (CPT codes 31551, 31552, 31553, 31554, 31580, 31584, 31587, 31591, 31592) (see section II.L) along with updated prices for the equipment items related to scopes utilized by these services. We also solicited comment on this separate pricing structure for scopes, scope video systems, and scope accessories, which we could consider proposing to apply to other codes in future rulemaking.

The following is a summary of the comments we received on this separate pricing structure for scopes, scope video systems, and scope accessories.

Comment:

Many commenters addressed our general proposal to reclassify scopes and their related equipment items. Commenters expressed their support for the decision to remove the scopes from the proposed scope packages, and the proposed definition of the scope video system based on the current endoscopy video system equipment item (ES031). There were no comments opposing the general principle behind reclassifying scopes and scope equipment.

Response:

We appreciate the support from the commenters for the broad project to clarify these issues related to scopes.

Comment:

Many commenters also requested that CMS delay implementing the scope proposal until additional time could be devoted to the subject. Several commenters asked CMS to wait to make any changes until the RUC could form a PE Subcommittee to address this issue. For codes with proposed CY 2017 values, commenters urged CMS to adopt the RUC-recommended direct PE inputs instead of the proposed direct PE inputs, pending anticipated RUC recommendations on the subject. Another commenter requested that CMS make no change for CY 2017 for any endoscopy procedures until proper identification of the capital and disposable cost inputs could be confirmed.

Response:

We appreciate commenters' interests in making certain that there is appropriate opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback and recommendations on the reclassification of scopes and related scope equipment. This was our primary rationale for limiting proposed changes regarding these kinds of inputs to codes reviewed for the current CY 2017 rule cycle, that is, the Flexible Laryngoscope and Laryngoplasty families of codes. Because these codes are under current review; however, we believe that they should be valued according to a scheme that accurately describes the scope equipment typically used in the services. As a result, we continue to believe that our proposed classification system for scopes is the more sound methodology to use for valuation of these two families of codes for CY 2017. However, we note that we would expect to include examination of these codes as part of any broader proposal we would make regarding scope equipment items, in response to new recommendations on the subject.

We look forward to receiving recommendations from the upcoming RUC PE Subcommittee regarding scopes and related scope equipment items. We note that in order for these recommendations to be considered for CY 2018 rulemaking, we would need to receive these recommendations by the same February deadline for the submission of recommendations on code valuations.

Comment:

Many commenters disagreed with the CMS proposal to price the endoscopy video system (ES031) at a price of $15,045.00. Some commenters stated that CMS should use the submitted invoices for the pricing of this equipment, which recommended a price of $49,400.00. One commenter stated that the proposed amount did not accurately reflect the current price of GI endoscopy video systems. Another commenter stated that CMS had defined the endoscopy video system as containing five items: (1) A monitor; (2) a processor; (3) a form of digital capture; (4) a cart; and (5) a printer. However, the commenter pointed out that CMS had not included a price for the digital capture device, which the commenter stressed was a significant part of the overall cost and needed to be included in the equipment's pricing. The commenter submitted a series of new invoices for endoscopy video system and requested that CMS incorporate them into the pricing of the equipment.

Response:

We appreciate the feedback from the commenters about pricing, especially the submission of new data in the form of additional invoices. We agree that the cost of a digital capture device should be included in the cost of the endoscopy video system; it was our belief that the digital capture device was included in the cost of the processor. We appreciate the clarification from the commenters indicating that this is not the case, and that the digital capture device is a separately priced component of the video system. As a result, we are averaging the price of the digital capture device on the two submitted invoices and pricing it at $18,346.00. We will add this into the overall cost of the endoscopy video system.

For the other four components of the video system, we are finalizing the prices as proposed. The invoices submitted for these components indicate that they are different forms of equipment with different product IDs and different prices. For example, our price for the processor comes from a “Video Processor with keyboard & video cable” (CV-180) as opposed to the newly submitted invoice for a “Viscera Elite Video System” (OTV-S190). These are two distinct equipment items, and we do not have any data to indicate that the equipment on the newly submitted invoices is more typical in its use than the equipment that we are currently using to price the endoscopy video system.

Therefore, we are finalizing the price of the endoscopy video system at $33,391.00, based on component prices of $9,000.00 for the processor, $18,346.00 for the digital capture device, $2,000.00 for the monitor, $2,295.00 for the printer, and $1,750.00 for the cart.

Comment:

A few commenters also addressed the pricing of related scope accessories. They stated that the proposed price for the fiberscope, flexible, rhinolaryngoscopy (ES020) was decreased by 33 percent based on one unrepresentative invoice and that this price undervalued the actual cost. Similarly, commenters stated that the proposed price for the stroboscopy system (ES065) at $19,100 was much lower than the manufacturer average invoice pricing. The proposed prices for the channeled and non-channeled flexible video rhinolaryngoscopes (ES064 and ES063 respectively) were also both two to three times lower than the manufacturer's average invoice price. One commenter submitted additional invoices for pricing these scopes and scope accessories.

Response:

We appreciate the submission of this additional pricing data for review. Although many commenters stated that the price of the stroboscopy system was too low, only one commenter supplied additional invoices for the same equipment item that we defined in the proposed rule, the StrobeLED system, and these invoices reflected lower prices than the one we had proposed. These invoices reflected prices of $16,431.00 and $15,000.00. We are averaging these together with our previously submitted price of $19,100.00 for the stroboscopy system, which results in a new price of $16,843.87.

When we reviewed the invoices for the channeled and non-channeled flexible video rhinolaryngoscopes (ES064 and ES063 respectively), we found that the product numbers indicated that these were different equipment items than the scopes that we priced in the proposed rule. As we mentioned for the pricing of the endoscopy video system, we have no data to indicate that use of these particular rhinolaryngoscopes would be typical, as opposed to the rhinolaryngoscopes that we proposed to use to establish prices in the proposed rule. As a result, we are maintaining our current prices for these scopes pending the submission of additional information.

We similarly found that the invoices with recommended price increases for the endoscope, rigid, sinoscopy (ES013) from the current price of $2,414.17 to $4,024.00 and for the videoscope, colonoscopy (ES033) from $23,650.00 to $37,273.00 related to different equipment items that we do not believe are a better reflection of the typical case than the item we currently use. We did not propose to make price changes for these scopes, and we have not incorporated these equipment items into the new scope classification system. As we stated previously, we are currently limiting the scope changes to the CPT codes under review for CY 2017 and their associated equipment items. We will consider pricing changes for the rest of the scopes and associated scope equipment as part of the broader scope reclassification and pricing effort in future rulemaking.

We received invoices for a series of equipment items listed as “other capital inputs not included in CMS estimate” as part of this collection of invoices. Since these equipment items were not included in the original recommendations or our proposed valuations for the Flexible Laryngoscope and Laryngoplasty families of codes, we are not adding them to our equipment database at this time. We will consider the addition of these equipment items as part of the broader recommendations from the RUC PE Subcommittee on the scope classification project.

We did not receive an invoice or other data to support a change in the pricing of the fiberscope, flexible, rhinolaryngoscopy (ES020).

Comment:

Many commenters objected to the use of a vendor quote for pricing of the scope equipment. Commenters requested that specialty societies should also be allowed to submit quotes for pricing as they are easier to obtain than paid invoices. Commenters also stated that the use of vendor prices created transparency issues and asked CMS to explain why they are appropriate to use rather than invoices supplied by specialties. One commenter stated that a single invoice was not an adequate sample to use as a pricing input for many types of endoscopic equipment.

Response:

We are always interested in investigating multiple data sources for use in pricing supplies and equipment, provided that the information can be verified as accurate. We agree with the commenter that a single voluntarily submitted invoice may not be an adequate source for making wide ranging pricing decisions. We prefer to have pricing information from multiple data sources whenever possible, which may include information obtained from vendors of medical supplies and equipment. We continue to believe that there are risks of bias in submission of price quotes used for purposes of ratesetting. However, given the way we use these prices in the current ratesetting methodologies, we believe the risk of bias is located in submission of overstated, not understated prices. Therefore, we believe it is reasonable to assume that practitioners would generally be able acquire particular items at the prices vendors submit to CMS.

After consideration of comments received, we are finalizing our proposals as detailed in the proposed rule, with the updated prices for the endoscopy video system and the stroboscopy system.

(4) Technical Corrections to Direct PE Input Database and Supporting Files

Subsequent to the publication of the CY 2016 PFS final rule with comment period, stakeholders alerted us to several clerical inconsistencies in the direct PE database. We proposed to correct these inconsistencies as described below and reflected in the CY 2017 direct PE input database displayed on our Web site under downloads for the CY 2017 PFS proposed rule at

http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/PhysicianFeeSched/PFS-Federal-Regulation-Notices.html

For CY 2017, we proposed the following technical corrections:

• For CPT codes 72081-72084, a stakeholder informed us that the equipment time for the PACS workstation (ED050) should be equal to the clinical labor during the service period; the equipment time formula we used for these codes for CY 2016 erroneously included 4 minutes of preservice clinical labor. We agree with the stakeholder that the PACS workstation should use the standard equipment time formula for a PACS workstation for these codes. As a result, we proposed to refine the ED050 equipment time to 21 minutes for CPT code 72081, 36 minutes for CPT code 72082, 44 minutes for CPT code 72083, and 53 minutes for CPT code 72084 to reflect the clinical labor time associated with these codes. This same commenter also indicated that a number of clinical labor activities had been entered in the database in the incorrect service period for CPT codes 37215, 50432, 50694, and 72081. These clinical labor activities were incorrectly listed in the “postservice” period instead of the “service post” period. We proposed to make these technical corrections as well so that the minutes are assigned to the appropriate service period within the direct PE input database.

• Another stakeholder alerted us that ileoscopy CPT codes 44380, 44381 and 44382 did not include the direct PE input equipment item called the Gomco suction machine (EQ235) and indicated that this omission appeared to be inadvertent. We agreed that it was. We have included the item EQ235 in the final direct PE input database for CPT code 44380 at a time of 29 minutes, for CPT code 44381 at a time of 39 minutes, and CPT code 44382 at a time of 34 minutes.

The PE RVUs displayed in Addendum B on our Web site were calculated with the inputs displayed in the CY 2017 direct PE input database.

Comment:

One commenter expressed support for the proposed technical corrections to these services.

Response:

We appreciate the support from the commenter. After consideration of comments received, we are finalizing these technical corrections.

Comment:

Several commenters contacted CMS during the comment period after noticing that six services where CMS proposed to accept the refinement panel work RVU did not contain the updated work RVU in the

Addendum B file for the proposed rule. These commenters requested that CMS address these discrepancies.

Response:

We appreciate the assistance from the commenters in recognizing these discrepancies. We have corrected them and assigned the refinement panel work RVUs to the six services in question.

Comment:

One commenter stated that there were potential technical errors in the clinical labor inputs for CPT codes 88329, 88331, 88360, and 88361.

Response:

We have reviewed these codes and they do not contain technical errors. The clinical labor inputs were adjusted in the CY 2016 rule cycle as a result of CMS refinement (80 FR 70981-70983).

(5) Restoration of Inputs

Several of the PE worksheets included in the RUC recommendations for CY 2016 contained time for the equipment item “xenon light source” (EQ167). Because there appeared to be two special light sources already present (the fiberoptic headlight and the endoscope itself) in the services for which this equipment item was recommended by the RUC, we believed that the use of only one of these light sources would be typical and proposed to remove the xenon light equipment time. In the CY 2016 PFS final rule with comment period, we restored the xenon light (EQ167) and removed the fiberoptic headlight (EQ170) with the same number of equipment minutes for CPT codes 30300, 31295, 31296, 31297, and 92511.

We received comments expressing approval for the restoration of the xenon light. However, the commenters also stated that the two light sources were not duplicative, but rather, both a headlight and a xenon light source are required concurrently for otolaryngology procedures when scopes are utilized. The commenters requested that the fiberoptic headlight be restored to these codes.

We agreed with the commenters that the use of both light sources would be typical for these procedures. Therefore, we proposed in the CY 2017 proposed rule to add the fiberoptic headlight (EQ170) to CPT codes 30300, 31295, 31296, 31297, and 92511 at the same number of equipment minutes as the xenon light (EQ167).

Comment:

One commenter expressed appreciation for the CMS proposal to restore the fiberoptic headlight to the codes in question. The commenter also stated that it had supplied invoices for LED lights, which are significantly less expensive than the xenon light source, as it was this commenter's understanding that xenon lights are no longer the typical light source for these procedures and they are no longer widely available for purchase from vendors. The commenter expressed support for retaining the xenon light as the standard light source line item for all endoscopy codes if that remained CMS' preference.

Response:

We appreciate the support for our proposal from the commenter, as well as the submission of additional information regarding the typical light source for these procedures. We will add the LED light source to our equipment database at the submitted invoice price of $1,915.00. However, we will not replace the xenon light with the LED light at this time, as we believe the subject deserves further consideration. We will consider proposing this change in future rulemaking.

Comment:

We received new invoices for the xenon light equipment from a different commenter which averaged out to a price of $12,298.00.

Response:

We are finalizing our proposed price of $7,000.00 for the xenon light source. Since we received a comment stating that xenon lights are no longer a typical light source for procedure use, and that they have been supplanted by the use of LED lights, we are viewing the current input as a proxy item, and therefore, do not believe that it would be appropriate to increase the cost of the xenon light source at this time. We will consider making a proposal to address this subject in future rulemaking.

After consideration of comments received, we are finalizing our proposal to add the fiberoptic headlight (EQ170) to CPT codes 30300, 31295, 31296, 31297, and 92511 at the same number of equipment minutes as the xenon light (EQ167).

(6) Updates to Prices for Existing Direct PE Inputs

In the CY 2011 PFS final rule with comment period (75 FR 73205), we finalized a process to act on public requests to update equipment and supply price and equipment useful life inputs through annual rulemaking, beginning with the CY 2012 PFS proposed rule. For CY 2017, we proposed the following price updates for existing direct PE inputs:

Several commenters wrote to discuss the price of the Antibody Estrogen Receptor monoclonal (SL493). We received information including three invoices with new pricing information regarding the SL493 supply. We proposed to use this information to propose for the supply item SL493 a price of $14.00 per test, which is the average price based on the invoices that we received in total for the item.

Comment:

Several commenters supported the proposed price increase and urged CMS to finalize the proposal.

Response:

We appreciate the support from the commenters. After consideration of comments received, we are finalizing the price of the Antibody Estrogen Receptor monoclonal (SL493) supply at $14.00 as proposed.

We also proposed to update the price for two supplies in response to the submission of new invoices. The proposed price for “antigen, venom” supply (SH009) reflects an increase from $16.67 to $20.14 per milliliter, and the proposed price for “antigen, venom, tri-vespid” supply (SH010) reflects an increase from $30.22 to $44.05 per milliliter.

Comment:

Several commenters stated that they strongly supported the proposed price updates for antigen supplies and urged CMS to finalize the proposal.

Response:

We appreciate the support from the commenters. After consideration of comments received, we are finalizing the price of the “antigen, venom” (SH009) and “antigen, venom, tri-vespid” (SH010) supplies as proposed.

We proposed to remove the laser tip, diffuser fiber supply (SF030) and replace it with the laser tip, bare (single use) supply (SF029) for CPT code 31572 (formerly placeholder code 317X1). We did not propose a price change for the SF030 supply.

Comment:

In reference to CPT code 52648, a commenter stated that the price for the laser tip, diffuser fiber supply (SF030) was decreasing from $850 to $197.50. The commenter stated that the methodology for this adjustment was opaque, unanticipated, and not proposed for comment in the proposed rule. The commenter stated that the $850 supply cost would be more appropriate for the laser tip, diffuser fiber supply.

Response:

We stated in the CY 2017 proposed rule (81 FR 46247) that we did not believe that the submitted invoice for the laser tip, diffuser supply at $197.50 was current enough to establish a new price for the supply. As a result, we proposed to remove the laser tip, diffuser fiber supply (SF030) and replaced it with the laser tip, bare (single use) supply (SF029) for CPT code 31572 (Laryngoscopy, flexible; with ablation or destruction of lesion(s) with laser, unilateral), as we did not believe that it was appropriate to use a supply with an outdated invoice. However, we inadvertently set the price of the laser tip, diffuser fiber supply to

$197.50 in the proposed direct PE input database in contradiction of our written proposal. We apologize for the confusion caused by this error. In the final direct PE input database, we are restoring the price of the laser tip, diffuser fiber supply to $850.00, since we did not intend to propose a change the price of this supply. We are also requesting the submission of additional current pricing information for the laser tip, diffuser fiber supply, given the significant difference between the $197.50 and $850.00 prices.

Comment:

A commenter submitted two invoices containing pricing data for a Cook Biopsy device.

Response:

While we appreciate the submission of this pricing information from the commenter, we are unable to determine which supply or equipment item these invoices were in reference to. The invoices were not mentioned in the text of the commenter's letter. We request that invoices submitted for pricing updates should contain clear documentation regarding the item in question: its name, the CMS supply/equipment code that it references (if any), the unit quantity if the item is shipped in boxes or batches, and any other information relevant for pricing.

We routinely accept public submission of invoices as part of our process for developing payment rates for new, revised, and potentially misvalued codes. Often these invoices are submitted in conjunction with the RUC-recommended values for the codes. For CY 2017, we note that some stakeholders have submitted invoices for new, revised, or potentially misvalued codes after the February deadline established for code valuation recommendations. To be considered for a given year's proposed rule, we generally need to receive invoices by the same February deadline. In similar fashion, we generally need to receive invoices by the end of the comment period for the proposed rule in order to consider them for supply and equipment pricing in the final rule for that calendar year. Of course, we consider invoices submitted as public comments during the comment period following the publication of the proposed rule when relevant for services with values open for comment, and will consider any other invoices received after February and/or outside of the public comment process as part of our established annual process for requests to update supply and equipment prices as finalized in the CY 2011 final rule with comment period (75 FR 73205).

(7) Radiation Treatment Delivery Practice Expense RVUs

Comment:

Several commenters noticed that there was a 10 percent decrease in the proposed Non Facility PE RVUs for HCPCS code G6011 despite proposed changes in direct PE inputs. Commenters requested an explanation for why this decrease was taking place, and referenced section 3 of the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act (PAMPA) (Pub. L. 114-115, enacted December 18, 2015), which requires CMS to maintain the associated “definitions, units, and inputs” for certain radiation treatment and related services for CY 2017 and CY 2018. Several commenters stated that they believed that this decrease in the PE RVU was in violation of section 1848(c)(2)(C)(i-ii) of the Act (added by section 3 of the PAMPA), which requires inputs for these services to remain unchanged for CY 2017 and 2018.

Response:

We agree with the commenters that we did not propose to change any of the direct PE inputs for HCPCS code G6011, and we understand the proposed change in the nonfacility PE RVUs would generally not be expected absent a corresponding change in direct PE inputs. However, the change in the PE RVU for HCPCS code G6011 is caused by a significant shift in the specialties furnishing the service in the Medicare claims data. In the claims data we used to establish the PE RVUs for CY 2016, dermatology furnished 51 percent of the services, while radiation oncology furnished 43 percent. The most recent claims data reflects a major shift, with radiation oncology now furnishing about 85 percent of the services and dermatology only about 6 percent. The decrease in the PE RVU between CY 2016 and CY 2017 resulted from this shift in specialty mix, as the specialties actually furnishing the service, reflected in the claims data, have a higher percentage of direct PE relative to indirect PE, and therefore, a lower percentage of indirect PE, than the specialties that were previously furnishing the service in the claims data. In other words, consistent with the established methodology for allocating indirect PE to services, a specialty mix with a lower percentage of indirect PE results in fewer indirect PE RVUs being allocated and a lower overall PE RVU for the code even though the direct PE inputs have remained the same. This kind of shift is relatively unusual outside of low-volume codes, but it is consistent with our established methodology for allocating indirect PE to services. We believe that in many cases, the change in specialty utilization for a particular service would warrant a re-examination of the direct PE inputs for the service under the misvalued code initiative. Given the statutory provision that prohibits us from changing the direct PE inputs prior to CY 2019 or considering these services as potentially misvalued, we will consider this issue further for future rulemaking.

We recognize that this change would be unanticipated, but we do not believe there is a straightforward, transparent way to offset the change since the statutory provision requires that we maintain the direct inputs for the PE RVUs. We note that this change is unique among the radiation therapy and related imaging codes where the maintenance of inputs has generally resulted in payment rate stability for these services.

B. Determination of Malpractice Relative Value Units (RVUs)

1. Overview

Section 1848(c) of the Act requires that each service paid under the PFS be composed of three components: Work, PE, and malpractice (MP) expense. As required by section 1848(c)(2)(C)(iii) of the Act, beginning in CY 2000, MP RVUs are resource based. Malpractice RVUs for new codes after 1991 were extrapolated from similar existing codes or as a percentage of the corresponding work RVU. Section 1848(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Act also requires that we review, and if necessary adjust, RVUs no less often than every 5 years. In the CY 2015 PFS final rule with comment period, we implemented the third review and update of MP RVUs. For a comprehensive discussion of the third review and update of MP RVUs see the CY 2015 proposed rule (79 FR 40349 through 40355) and final rule with comment period (79 FR 67591 through 67596).

To determine MP RVUs for individual PFS services, our MP methodology is comprised of three factors: (1) Specialty-level risk factors derived from data on specialty-specific MP premiums incurred by practitioners, (2) service level risk factors derived from Medicare claims data of the weighted average risk factors of the specialties that furnish each service, and (3) an intensity/complexity of service adjustment to the service level risk factor based on either the higher of the work RVU or clinical labor RVU. Prior to CY 2016, MP RVUs were only updated once every 5 years, except in the case of new and revised codes.

As explained in the CY 2011 PFS final rule with comment period (75 FR

73208), MP RVUs for new and revised codes effective before the next 5-year review of MP RVUs were determined either by a direct crosswalk from a similar source code or by a modified crosswalk to account for differences in work RVUs between the new/revised code and the source code. For the modified crosswalk approach, we adjust (or scale) the MP RVU for the new/revised code to reflect the difference in work RVU between the source code and the new/revised work RVU (or, if greater, the difference in the clinical labor portion of the fully implemented PE RVU) for the new code. For example, if the proposed work RVU for a revised code were 10 percent higher than the work RVU for its source code, the MP RVU for the revised code would be increased by 10 percent over the source code MP RVU. Under this approach, the same risk factor is applied for the new/revised code and source code, but the work RVU for the new/revised code is used to adjust the MP RVUs for risk.

In the CY 2016 PFS final rule with comment period (80 FR 70906 through 70910), we finalized a policy to begin conducting annual MP RVU updates to reflect changes in the mix of practitioners providing services (using Medicare claims data), and to adjust MP RVUs for risk for intensity and complexity (using the work RVU or clinical labor RVU). We also finalized a policy to modify the specialty mix assignment methodology (for both MP and PE RVU calculations) to use an average of the 3 most recent years of data instead of a single year of data. We stated that under this approach, the specialty-specific risk factors would continue to be updated through notice and comment rulemaking every 5 years using updated premium data, but would remain unchanged between the 5-year reviews.

For CY 2016, we did not propose to discontinue our current approach for determining MP RVUs for new/revised codes. For the new and revised codes for which we proposed work RVUs and PE inputs, we also published the proposed MP crosswalks used to determine their MP RVUs. We address comments regarding valuation of new and revised codes in section II.L of this final rule, which makes clear the codes with interim final values for CY 2016 had newly proposed values for CY 2017, all of which were again open for comment. The MP crosswalks for new and revised codes with interim final values were established in the CY 2016 PFS final rule with comment period; we proposed these same crosswalks in the CY 2017 PFS proposed rule.

2. Updating Specialty Specific Risk Factors

The proposed CY 2017 GPCI update (eighth update), discussed in section II.E of this final rule, reflects updated MP premium data, collected for the purpose of proposing updates to the MP GPCIs. Although we could have used the updated MP premium data obtained for the purposes of the proposed eighth GPCI update to propose updates to the specialty risk factors used in the calculation of MP RVUs, this would not be consistent with the policy we previously finalized in the CY 2016 PFS final rule with comment period. In that rule, we indicated that the specialty-specific risk factors would continue to be updated through notice and comment rulemaking every 5 years using updated premium data, but would remain unchanged between the 5-year reviews. Additionally, consistent with the statutory requirement at section 1848(e)(1)(C) of the Act, only one half of the adjustment to MP GPCIs would be applied for CY 2017 based on the new MP premium data. As such, we did not think it would be appropriate to propose to update the specialty risk factors for CY 2017 based on the updated MP premium data that is reflected in the proposed CY 2017 GPCI update. Therefore, we did not propose to update the specialty-risk factors based on the new premium data collected for the purposes of the 3-year GPCI update for CY 2017 at this time. However, we solicited comment on whether we should consider doing so, perhaps as early as for 2018, prior to the fourth review and update of MP RVUs that must occur no later than CY 2020.

The following is summary of the comments we received on whether we should consider updating the specialty-risk factors based on the new premium data collected for the purposes of the 3-year GPCI update, perhaps as early as for 2018, prior to the fourth review and update of MP RVUs that must occur no later than CY 2020.

Comment:

We received few comments regarding this issue. Some commenters, including the RUC, recommended that CMS use the updated MP premium data collected as part of the CY 2017 GPCI update in the creation of the MP RVUs for CY 2017. One commenter stated that CMS should follow its normal process to update MP RVUs for CY 2020. Another commenter supported the technical and policy changes that CMS made related to the MP RVUs for the CY 2016 PFS, and appreciated CMS' reluctance to change direction a year later and use the updated malpractice premium data gathered for the purpose of the GPCI update, in advance of the next 5-year review of the MP RVUs, to propose updates to the specialty risk factors used in the calculation of MP RVUs. The commenter suggested that CMS consider using the updated data to update the specialty-risk factors in the MP RVU methodology as early as CY 2018, noting that by CY 2018, the adjustment of the malpractice GPCIs would be complete, so the potential disconnect in the use of the updated premium data would no longer be an issue.

Response:

We appreciate the commenters' feedback. In response to the commenters who recommended that CMS use the updated MP premium data collected as part of the CY 2017 GPCI update in the creation of the MP RVUs for CY 2017, we reiterate that we did not propose to update the specialty-risk factors based on the new premium data collected for the purposes of the 3-year GPCI update for the CY 2017 MP RVUs. Instead, we solicited comment on whether we should consider doing so prior to the next 5-year interval, perhaps as early as for CY 2018. We will consider the possibility of using the updated MP data to update the specialty risk factors used in the calculation of the MP RVUs prior to the next 5-year update in future rulemaking.

Comment:

One commenter stated that CPT code 93355 should be added to the MP RVUs Invasive Cardiology Outside of Surgical Range list so that the surgical risk factor is applied when calculating the MP RVU.

Response:

We did not previously propose to include this code on the list of Invasive Cardiology Outside of Surgical Range when we updated MP risk factors for CY 2015 and we did not propose the change in the CY 2017 PFS proposed rule. We will consider that request for future rulemaking in conjunction with the next update of MP risk factors.

C. Medicare Telehealth Services

1. Billing

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