Medicare Program Final Rule

This final rule with comment period implements changes to the physician fee schedule and other Medicare Part B payment policies to ensure that our payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services. It also finalizes the calendar year (CY) 2008 interim relative value units (RVUs) and issues interim RVUs for new and revised codes for CY 2009. In addition, as required by the statute, it announces that the physician fee schedule update is 1.1 percent for CY 2009, the preliminary estimate for the sustainable growth rate for CY 2009 is 7.4 percent, and the conversion factor (CF) for CY 2009 is $36.0666. This final rule with comment period also implements or discusses certain provisions of the
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA).

DATES:
Effective Date: This final rule with comment period is effective on January 1, 2009 except for amendments to Sec. 410.62 and Sec. 411.351 which are effective July 1, 2009.

Comment Date: Comments will be considered if we receive them at one of the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m. e.s.t. on December 29, 2008.