Medicare published its 2009 Physician Fee Schedule rule in the Federal Register this week. Due to the legislative mandates from the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), the average national anesthesia conversion factor will increase nearly 5%, this on top of a nearly 25% increase last year. The ASA has issued a
release on their website with additional information. Every member of the Oregon congressional delegation supported MIPPA, which also included a fix for the anesthesia teaching rule set to go into effect in January 2010. The Oregon Society of Anesthesiologists is grateful for the leadership shown by our members of Congress this past summer in both passing this important bill and over-riding a presidential veto in the process.
