Re: HCFA fee increase(Fuzzy Math) Replies
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: HCFA fee increase(Fuzzy Math) Replies
Date:
1/4/2002
Text:
Here are the replies to my question starting with the original question.
Thank you for your replies. Steve
--------------------
I have just downloaded the 2002 Medicare fee schedule dated 12/17/2001. I
did the math that AOPA published in the 12/18/2001 issue of In Advance
and it does show a fee increase. Now, I compared the 2001 to the 2002
fees and came up with and average 1.5% Decrease. Is anyone else coming up
with these kind of figures? All I know is that in real numbers, there
will be less reimbursment to put in the bank.
Steve Childs, BOCP, C.Ped.
Pacific Orthotic Prosthetic Service
Medford, Oregon
-------------------------------
You are right that if you compare the fee schedule at the end of 2001
with
the new 2002 one, you will see a decrease. This is because of the
strange
way we got our 2001 increase. We were given only 1% for the first six
months, then an additional 5.3 % for the last 6 months. The net effect
of
these two changes was an overall increase of 3.7% for the whole year,
which
was equal to the Consumer Price Index. However, since the last 6 months
of
2001 were in essence overpaid, to make up for the underpayment during the
first 6 months, it looks like we are losing money when you compare it to
the
new fee schedule. But as you confirmed in your e-mail, when you check
the
numbers as stated in the AOPA In Advance, you can confirm that we did get
our 1% for 2002.
I hope this helps explain what looks like a decrease.
Kathy Dodson
Senior Director of Government Affairs
-----------------------------
I'm sitting at my house at this time, so please excuse me for not having
the
exact figures in front of me, but I will try to explain this complicated
matter. Last year (2001) we (O&P) received approximately a 3.5% increase
in
our L-code fees! But, because HCFA could not institute that large of an
increase fast enough through the DMERC's, we were given a 1% increase
from
1/1/01 through 7/1/01, and to make up the 2.5% difference that we lost
out
on in the first 6 months, we were given another 5% increase from 7/1/01
to
12/31/01. If you are following all of this to this point, your way
smarter
than I, cause it took me a couple of explanations to digest! Once we get
to
1/1/02 our fee schedule reverts back to the original 3.5% increase, and
then
we get another 1%. So, to sum it all up, we're really not getting hosed.
I
hope this helps! Please excuse my numbers, they're probably not exact,
I'm
working off of memory. If I did not help you, give Kathy Dotson a call at
AOPA!
Happy New Year!
Kevin Hawkins CP (LP)
-----------------------------------
Steve I also downloaded the 2002 update and the math was the same in New
York. I called cms and they said the new fee schedule would not be
available untill monday the 7th. The fee will be corrected then. Hope
this helps.
Michael Bolton, BOCO
Thank you for your replies. Steve
--------------------
I have just downloaded the 2002 Medicare fee schedule dated 12/17/2001. I
did the math that AOPA published in the 12/18/2001 issue of In Advance
and it does show a fee increase. Now, I compared the 2001 to the 2002
fees and came up with and average 1.5% Decrease. Is anyone else coming up
with these kind of figures? All I know is that in real numbers, there
will be less reimbursment to put in the bank.
Steve Childs, BOCP, C.Ped.
Pacific Orthotic Prosthetic Service
Medford, Oregon
-------------------------------
You are right that if you compare the fee schedule at the end of 2001
with
the new 2002 one, you will see a decrease. This is because of the
strange
way we got our 2001 increase. We were given only 1% for the first six
months, then an additional 5.3 % for the last 6 months. The net effect
of
these two changes was an overall increase of 3.7% for the whole year,
which
was equal to the Consumer Price Index. However, since the last 6 months
of
2001 were in essence overpaid, to make up for the underpayment during the
first 6 months, it looks like we are losing money when you compare it to
the
new fee schedule. But as you confirmed in your e-mail, when you check
the
numbers as stated in the AOPA In Advance, you can confirm that we did get
our 1% for 2002.
I hope this helps explain what looks like a decrease.
Kathy Dodson
Senior Director of Government Affairs
-----------------------------
I'm sitting at my house at this time, so please excuse me for not having
the
exact figures in front of me, but I will try to explain this complicated
matter. Last year (2001) we (O&P) received approximately a 3.5% increase
in
our L-code fees! But, because HCFA could not institute that large of an
increase fast enough through the DMERC's, we were given a 1% increase
from
1/1/01 through 7/1/01, and to make up the 2.5% difference that we lost
out
on in the first 6 months, we were given another 5% increase from 7/1/01
to
12/31/01. If you are following all of this to this point, your way
smarter
than I, cause it took me a couple of explanations to digest! Once we get
to
1/1/02 our fee schedule reverts back to the original 3.5% increase, and
then
we get another 1%. So, to sum it all up, we're really not getting hosed.
I
hope this helps! Please excuse my numbers, they're probably not exact,
I'm
working off of memory. If I did not help you, give Kathy Dotson a call at
AOPA!
Happy New Year!
Kevin Hawkins CP (LP)
-----------------------------------
Steve I also downloaded the 2002 update and the math was the same in New
York. I called cms and they said the new fee schedule would not be
available untill monday the 7th. The fee will be corrected then. Hope
this helps.
Michael Bolton, BOCO
Citation
“Re: HCFA fee increase(Fuzzy Math) Replies,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 1, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/218305.
