Federal register
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This final rule refines the resource-based practice expense relative value units (RVUs) and makes other changes to Medicare Part B payment policy. These policy changes concern: supplemental survey data for practice expense; updated geographic practice cost indices for physician work and practice expense; updated malpractice RVUs; revised requirements for supervision of therapy assistants; revised payment rules for low osmolar contrast media; changes to payment policies for physicians and practitioners managing dialysis patients; clarification of care plan oversight requirements; revised requirements for supervision of diagnostic psychological testing services; clarifications to the policies affecting therapy services; revised requirements for assignment of Medicare claims; addition to the list of telehealth services; and, several coding issues. We are making these changes to ensure that our payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services. ⋯ In addition, this rule updates the codes subject to the physician self-referral prohibition, discusses payment for set-up of portable x-ray equipment, discusses the third five-year refinement of work RVUs, and solicits comments on potentially misvalued work RVUs. We are also finalizing the calendar year (CY) 2004 interim RVUs and are issuing interim RVUs for new and revised procedure codes for CY 2005. As required by the statute, we are announcing that the physician fee schedule update for CY 2005 is 1.5 percent, the initial estimate for the sustainable growth rate for CY 2005 is 4.3, and the conversion factor for CY 2005 is $37.8975.