CMS will stop paying for consults Jan 1!

It's official:

Here is the press release:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp

Here is the Final Rule (1669 pages of it)

http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-26502_PI.pdf


Read the Codapedia article on the proposed rule for what will happen.
Search "no more consults",

what about

the 21.2% reduction in physican payments? We sure got lucky with that one- it was going to be 21.5% reduction (I say with sarcasm)

What abour hospital patients?

What does a consultant bill for the first visit in the hospital? Can't be an H&P, can't be a subsequent...

what about hospital patients

I haven't read the Final Rule, but the proposed rule said everyone would use the initial hospital services codes, and the admitting MD would have a modifier.

page 176

says to use the initial hospital visit codes 99221-99223 for that first "consultation" visit