Medicare Cuts Payments for 2006, Leaves Teaching Rules Alone

We want all CRNAs to be aware that Medicare anesthesia payments will be cut 4.4% beginning January 1, 2006, unless Congress acts to stop the cuts, according to a 2006 Medicare Part B update final rule issued November 2 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The final rule, which will be published in the Federal Register within the next few days, also includes language declining to change the Medicare payment rules for teaching anesthesiologists.

This AANA member alert is to inform you of these current issues, but no immediate action is required. The AANA's advocacy work on issues important to the patients, practice and profession of nurse anesthesia continues, of course. If an advocacy action specifically from you is required, we anticipate it will be within the next few weeks, and we will be sure to let you know.

** For more information, please read the AANA Hotline Extra at http://www.aana.com/members/fed_issues/medicare/hlextra110405.aspx

** To read CMS' language about the anesthesia teaching rules, please click http://www.aana.com/members/fed_issues/pdfs/20051102teachingrules.pdf