December 21, 2007

Medicare legislation passed by Congress on December 19 will eliminate the anticipated 10.1 percent cut in physicians' fees and replace it with a 0.5 percent increase—at least until July 1st; Congress must act again in order for the correction to extend beyond that date.

On January 1, 2008, the anesthesia conversion factor for your locality will increase by as much as 23 percent. The specific new conversion factor for your area is not yet known because there may be some final geographic or other adjustments that will produce varying percentage adjustments. The increase for the Detroit area, for example, will be about 15 percent—still a very nice change. As soon as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) releases the definitive 2008 anesthesia conversion factors, we will be able to give you your own.

ASA, the AMA, the American College of Surgeons, MGMA and many other associations are to be congratulated on their successful lobbying. They are already beginning work on the further legislation needed to make the change permanent. ABC joins the ASA in urging you, to continue contacting your Congressman or Congresswoman as well as your Senators to tell them they must extend the increase. For information on how to help in this important advocacy effort, please contact the ASA or visit its website, www.asahq.org.

With high hopes for continuing improvements to the Medicare anesthesia conversion factors and with all the very best wishes for the Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.