CMS, in its CY 2010 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), has proposed
to eliminate billing codes for consultation services in most situations. The rule
would allow consultation codes in the context of initial visits for telehealth
services, but any other services that are currently billed as consultation codes
would have to be billed as new or established office visits, initial hospital visits,
or initial nursing facility visits. CMS proposes to implement the rule in a budget
neutral manner by increasing the relative value units (RVUs) associated with
new and established office visits, and with initial facility visits for hospitals and
nursing homes. The elimination of consultation codes would effectively
eliminate the reimbursement advantage for physician specialists providing
consultation services, which have historically been paid at a higher rate than
new and established office visits, initial hospital visits, or initial facility visits.
Please see full publication below for more information.
