By Chris Silva
Continued debate about the accuracy of Medicare rates for physician services compelled the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to discuss how the relative value unit system might be improved. MedPAC met Oct. 8-9 in Washington, D.C.
In November, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services again will begin a key process, known as the five-year review, with a request for public comment on services in the physician fee schedule that might be misvalued.
The AMA/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee, or RUC, is convened by the American Medical Association to recommend how to adjust relative value units for Medicare services. It consists of practicing physicians representing a broad range of medical specialties.
MedPAC recommended in 2006 that the Health and Human Services secretary establish a separate panel with expertise in clinical and health care economics that could give additional advice on services that may be overvalued or undervalued. The commission also recommended that the secretary use Medicare claims data to identify services that might pay too much and potentially contribute to unnecessary growth in the volume of services.
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