On July 12, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) released the Revisions to Payment Policies under Physician Fee
Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2019; Medicare Shared
Savings Program Requirements proposed rule with comment period.
This is the first year that CMS is combining the Medicare PFS and the
Quality Payment Program proposed rules. CMS is requesting comments
on the proposed rule by September 10, 2018, and a final rule is expected
to be released in November. CMS has published several fact sheets on
the rule including a fact sheet on the PFS proposals for 2019.
AANS/CNS expert volunteers and staff are continuing to review the rule
and will draft responses to these proposals in the coming weeks. Below
is a summary of some of the proposals included in the payment
provisions of the draft regulation. The quality payment program
summary will be separately available.
Physician Payment Update
The 2019 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule Conversion Factor is $36.0463. The 2019
conversion factors reflect a statutory update of .25%, offset by a budget neutrality adjustment of -0.12
percent, resulting in a 0.13 percent update. Per the impact chart, overall, neurosurgery will see a
1.0% increase in Medicare payments in 2019.
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