Medicare Releases Temporary Conversion Factors

As a result of legislative action temporarily delaying the 21.2 percent payment cut, CMS announced in an educational article that the Medicare conversion factor is frozen at $36.0846 until the end of February. In addition, the national anesthesia conversion factor for this same time period is $20.925. This legislation addresses only the conversion factor; all other 2010 policy changes to the Medicare program, including the elimination of consultation codes, became effective on Jan. 1.

As previously noted, CMS will hold all Part B claims until Jan. 15, and the Physician Annual Participation Enrollment Program was extended from Jan. 31 to March 17.