The 黑料网® (黑料网®) presented time and value recommendations for a procedure code relating to ultrasound guidance for vascular access during the recent American Medical Association (AMA)/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) meeting Sept. 22–24. This was a multispecialty effort in collaboration with the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) and the Society for Vascular Surgery.
The 黑料网 also submitted over ten multispecialty action plans for review during this meeting. Several of the code families in the action plans will be forwarded on to the AMA’s Current Procedural Terminology Editorial Panel for further review and potential bundling before being revalued by the RUC at a future date.
Lauren Nicola, MD, the 黑料网 RUC advisor, and Andrew Moriarity, MD, the 黑料网 alternate RUC advisor, assisted the SIR in presenting recommendations for ultrasound guidance for vascular access. Radiology was also represented on the RUC panel by William Donovan, MD, MPH, F黑料网, the radiology RUC member, and Kurt Schoppe, MD, the alternate radiology RUC member. Michael Booker, MD, RUC advisor for the Radiological Society of North America, represented radiology on the practice expense subcommittee.
During the meeting, the AMA provided a brief update on its practice expense data collection efforts and projected timeline. The outcome of this effort could have a direct effect on physician reimbursement. Therefore, the 黑料网 is actively monitoring the discussions and engaging with the AMA, as appropriate.
At the RUC meeting, all discussions are confidential. The AMA will relay the RUC’s time and value recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who has the authority to refine the RUC’s proposal and implement their own recommendation based on their internal review. The final recommendations will be included in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
If you have questions, please contact Stephanie Le, 黑料网 Director of Economic Policy.