The primary care increase applies to family physicians, general internists, geriatricians, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and physician assistants who have at least 60 percent of their services in primary care.
General surgeons are also eligible for the bonuses if the ZIP code of their practice is in a federally designated professional shortage area. The agency is using the same list of procedures used for the existing shortage area bonus program, which the American College of Surgeons would like to make permanent.
Meanwhile, Congress has yet to extend the current Medicare physician fee fix, which expires on Dec. 1. The automatic cuts amount to 23 percent on Dec. 1 and 2 percent more on Jan. 1, 2011.
Read the American Medical News report on physician fees.
Read more coverage of Medicare physician fees:
– Specialists Alliance Questions Debt Panel’s Plan for Medicare Fees
– Almost One in Five Physicians Limit Medicare Patients in Their Practices
– Texas Physicians Opting Out of Medicare at Higher Rate
