Physician Services

Paper instructions:

Paying for Physician Services

Mr. Smith is a 68-year-old Medicare beneficiary. He sought treatments from Dr. Johnson. Assume the following values for the services provided by Dr. Johnson:

Categories RVU Geographic Cost Index Product
Work 27.45 1.092 29.98
Practice Expense 43.05 1.743 75.04
Malpractice 10.32 0.543 5.60

Conversion Factor: 64.43

1. How much will Medicare pay Dr. Johnson if Dr. Johnson is a Medicare participating physician? How much out-of-pocket payment will Mr. Smith be responsible for?
2. How much will Medicare pay Dr. Johnson if Dr. Johnson is a Medicare non-participating physician who elects assignment? How much out-of-pocket payment will Mr. Smith be responsible for?
3. How much will Medicare pay Dr. Johnson if Dr. Johnson is a Medicare non-participating physician who does not elect assignment? How much out-of-pocket payment will Mr. Smith be responsible for?

• Cite all sources and provide a reference list at the end of the paper.
REFERENCE/ INFO

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. (2010). Medicare Payment Basics: Physician Services Payment System. Available at http://www.medpac.gov/documents/MedPAC_Payment_Basics_10_Physician.pdf (Retrieved 11/21/2012)

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. (2010). Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The Medicare Learning Network Payment Systems Fact Sheet Series. Available at http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/HospitalOutpaysysfctsht.pdf (Retrieved 11/21/2012)

Wilensky, G. (2009). Reforming Medicare’s Physician Payment System. New England Journal of Medicine, 360 (7), 653-655. Available at http://healthpolicyandreform.nejm.org/?p=334 (Retrieved 11/21/2012)