National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File Calendar Year 2016
National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File Calendar Year 2016
National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File Calendar Year 2016
The Medicare physician fee schedule amounts are adjusted to reflect the variation in
practice costs from area to area. A geographic practice cost index (GPCI) has been
established for every Medicare payment locality for each of the three components of a
procedures relative value unit (i.e., the RVUs for work, practice expense, and
malpractice). The GPCIs are applied in the calculation of a fee schedule payment amount
by multiplying the RVU for each component times the GPCI for that component.
For informational purposes, changes from the previous years documentation file are in
bold font to facilitate their identification.
The Medicare limiting charge is set by law at 115 percent of the payment amount for the
service furnished by the nonparticipating physician. However, the law sets the payment
amount for nonparticipating physicians at 95 percent of the payment amount for
participating physicians (i.e., the fee schedule amount). Calculating 95 percent of 115
percent of an amount is equivalent to multiplying the amount by a factor of 1.0925 (or
109.25 percent). Therefore, to calculate the Medicare limiting charge for a physician
service for a locality, multiply the fee schedule amount by a factor of 1.0925. The result is
the Medicare limiting charge for that service for that locality to which the fee schedule
amount applies.
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File Organization: The file contains one record for each unique combination of procedure
code and modifier and is sorted in the above listed code sequence.
Initial Source: November 2016Federal Register publication of the Fee Schedule for
Physicians' Services for CY 2016.
Update Schedule: This file will be updated on a periodic schedule to incorporate mid-year
changes. Updated 2016 files will be available on April 1, July 1 and
October 1. The following naming convention will be used to identify each:
RVU16A: January 2016 release
RVU16AR: January 2016 release Correction Notice
(If Required)
RVU16B: April 2016 release
RVU16C: July 2016 release
RVU16D: October 2016 release
NOTE:
CPT codes and descriptions only are copyright 2016 American Medical Association. All
rights reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS apply.
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All dental codes copyright 2015/16American Dental Association, all rights reserved.
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NATIONAL PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE RELATIVE VALUE FILE
CALENDAR YEAR 2016
COBOL
DATA ELEMENT LOCATION PIC DESCRIPTION
HEADER RECORD
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DATA RECORD
HCPCS Code 1-5 X(5) CPT or Level 2 HCPCS number for the service.
NOTE: See copyright statement on cover sheet.
Modifier 6-7 X(2) For diagnostic tests, a blank in this field denotes the global service and
the following modifiers identify the components:
--26 = Professional component
--TC = Technical component
--For services other than those with a professional and/or technical
component, a blank will appear in this field with one exception: the
presence of CPT modifier -53 indicates that separate RVUs and a fee
schedule amount have been established for procedures which the
physician terminated before completion. This modifier is used only with
colonoscopy CPT code 45378, or with G0105 and G0121. Any other
codes billed with modifier -53 are subject to carrier medical review and
priced by individual consideration.
--53 = Discontinued Procedure - Under certain circumstances, the
physician may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure.
Due to extenuating circumstances, or those that threaten the well being
of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or
diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued.
Status Code 58-58 X(1) Indicates whether the code is in the fee schedule and whether it is
separately payable if the service is covered. See Attachment A for
description of values. Only RVUs associated with status codes of "A",
"R", or "T", are used for Medicare payment.
Work RVU 60-65 999.99 Relative Value Unit (RVU) for the physician work in the service as
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published in the Federal Register Fee Schedule for Physicians Services
for CY 2016.
Non-Facility Practice 67-72 999.99 Relative Value Unit (RVU) for the resource-based practice expense for
Expense RVU the non-facility setting, as published in the Federal Register Fee
Schedule for Physicians Services for CY 2016.
Non-Facility NA Indicator 73-74 X(2) An NA in this field indicates that this procedure is rarely or never
performed in the non-facility setting.
Facility Practice Expense 76-81 999.99 Relative Value Unit (RVU) for the resource-based practice expense for
RVU the facility setting, as published in the Federal Register Fee Schedule
for Physicians Services for CY 2016.
Facility NA Indicator 82-83 X(2) An NA in this field indicates that this procedure is rarely or never
performed in the facility setting.
Malpractice RVU 85-89 99.99 RVU for the malpractice expense for the service as published in the
Federal Register Fee Schedule for Physicians' Services for CY 2016.
Total Non-Facility RVUs 91-96 999.99 Sum of work, non-facility practice expense, and malpractice
expense RVUs.
Total Facility RVUs 97-102 999.99 Sum of work, facility practice expense, and malpractice expense
RVUs.
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PC/TC Indicator 103-103 x(1) See Attachment A for description of values.
Global Surgery 104-106 XXX Provides time frames that apply to each surgical procedure.
000=Endoscopic or minor procedure with related preoperative and
postoperative relative values on the day of the procedure only included
in the fee schedule payment amount; evaluation and management
services on the day of the procedure generally not payable.
010=Minor procedure with preoperative relative values on the day of the
procedure and postoperative relative values during a 10 day
postoperative period included in the fee schedule amount; evaluation
and management services on the day of the procedure and during the
10-day postoperative period generally not payable.
Preoperative Percentage 107-109 .99 Percentage for preoperative portion of global package.
Intraoperative Percentage 110-112 .99 Percentage for intraoperative portion of global package, including
postoperative work in the hospital.
Postoperative 113-115 .99 Percentage for postoperative portion of global package that is provided
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Percentage in the office after discharge from the hospital.
Multiple Procedure 116-116 x(1) Indicates applicable payment adjustment rule for multiple procedures:
(Modifier 51) 0=No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. If
procedure is reported on the same day as another procedure, base the
payment on the lower of (a) the actual charge, or (b) the fee schedule
amount for the procedure.
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only its base procedure, do not pay separately for the base procedure.
Payment for the base procedure is included in the payment for the
other endoscopy.
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0=150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does not apply. If
procedure is reported with modifier -50 or with modifiers RT and LT,
base the payment for the two sides on the lower of: (a) the total actual
charge for both sides and (b) 100% of the fee schedule amount for a
single code. Example: The fee schedule amount for code XXXXX is
$125. The physician reports code XXXXX-LT with an actual charge of
$100 and XXXXX-RT with an actual charge of $100. Payment should
be based on the fee schedule amount ($125) since it is lower than the
total actual charges for the left and right sides ($200).
The bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for codes in this category (a)
because of physiology or anatomy, or (b) because the code description
specifically states that it is a unilateral procedure and there is an
existing code for the bilateral procedure.
2=150% payment adjustment does not apply. RVUs are already based
on the procedure being performed as a bilateral procedure. If the
procedure is reported with modifier -50 or is reported twice on the same
day by any other means (e.g., with RT and LT modifiers or with a 2 in
the units field), base the payment for both sides on the lower of (a) the
total actual charge by the physician for both sides, or (b) 100% of the
fee schedule for a single code. Example: The fee schedule amount for
code YYYYY is $125. The physician reports code YYYYY-LT with an
actual charge of $100 and YYYYY-RT with an actual charge of $100.
Payment should be based on the fee schedule amount ($125) since it is
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lower than the total actual charges for the left and right sides ($200).
The RVUs are based on a bilateral procedure because (a) the code
descriptor specifically states that the procedure is bilateral, (b) the code
descriptor states that the procedure may be performed either
unilaterally or bilaterally, or (c) the procedure is usually performed as a
bilateral procedure.
Assistant at Surgery 118-118 x(1) Indicates services where an assistant at surgery is never paid for per
Medicare Claims Manual.
0=Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure
unless supporting documentation is submitted to establish medical
necessity.
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9=Concept does not apply.
Co-surgeons 119-119 x(1) Indicates services for which two surgeons, each in a different specialty,
(Modifier 62) may be paid.
0=Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery 120-120 x(1) Indicates services for which team surgeons may be paid.
(Modifier 66) 0=Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.1=Team surgeons
could be paid, though supporting documentation required to establish
medical necessity of a team; pay by report.
Endoscopic Base Code 128-132 X(5) Code which identifies an endoscopic base code for each code with a
multiple surgery indicator of 3.
Conversion Factor 133-140 999.9999 This is the multiplier that transforms relative values into payment
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amounts. This conversion factor reflects the MEI update adjustment.
For 2002 and beyond, there is a single conversion factor for all services.
Physician Supervision of 142-143 X(2) This field is for use in post payment review.
Diagnostic Procedures
01 = Procedure must be performed under the general supervision of a
physician.
02 = Procedure must be performed under the direct supervision of a
physician.
03 = Procedure must be performed under the personal supervision of
physician.
04 = Physician supervision policy does not apply when procedure is
furnished by a qualified, independent psychologist or a clinical
psychologist; otherwise must be performed under the general
supervision of a physician.
05 = Physician supervision policy does not apply when procedure is
furnished by a qualified audiologist; otherwise must be performed under
the general supervision of a physician.
06 = Procedure must be performed by a physician or a physical
Therapist (PT) who is certified by the American Board of Physical
Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) as a qualified electrophysiological clinical
specialist and is permitted to provide the procedure under State law.
21 = Procedure may be performed by a technician with certification
under general supervision of a physician; otherwise must be performed
under direct supervision of a physician.
22 = May be performed by a technician with on-line real-time contact
with physician.
66 = May be performed by a physician or by a physical therapist with
ABPTS certification and certification in this specific procedure.
6A= Supervision standards for level 66 apply; in addition, the PT with
ABPTS certification may supervise another PT, but only the PT with
ABPTS certification may bill.
77 = Procedure must be performed by a PT with ABPTS certification or
by a PT without certification under direct supervision of a physician, or
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by a technician with certification under general supervision of a
physician.
7A = Supervision standards for level 77 apply; in addition, the PT with
ABPTS certification may supervise another PT, but only the PT with
ABPTS certification may bill.
09 = Concept does not apply.
Calculation Flag 144-144 X(1) As of July 1, 2014 the value for the Calculation Flag for all HCPCS is
0.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 146-147 X(2) This field identifies the applicable diagnostic serrvice family for that
Indicator HCPCS codes with a multiple procedure indicator of 4. For services
effective January 1, 2011 and after, family indicators 01 11 will not be
populated. The values are:
01=Ultrasound (Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis-Non-Obstetrical)
02=CT and CTA (Chest/Thorax/Abd/Pelvis)
03=CT and CTA (Head/Brain/Orbit/Maxillofacial/Neck)
04=MRI and MRA (Chest/Abd/Pelvis)
05=MRI and MRA (Head/Brain/Neck)
06=MRI and MRA (Spine)
07=CT (Spine)
08=MRI and MRA (Lower Extremities)
09=CT and CTA (Lower Extremities)
10=MR and MRI (Upper Extremities and Joints)
11=CT and CTA (Upper Extremities)
88 = Subject to the reduction of the TC diagnostic imaging (effective for
services January 1, 2011 and after).
99=Concept does not apply
Non-Facility Practice 152-157 999.99 The OPPS Payment Amount calculated using these values is compared
to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to determine appicability of the
Expense Used for OPPS
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Payment Amount OPPS Imaging Cap mandated by Section 5102(b) of the Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005.
Facility Practice Expense 159-164 999.99 The OPPS Payment Amount calculated using these values is compared
to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to determine appicability of the
Used for OPPS Payment OPPS Imaging Cap mandated by Section 5102(b) of the Deficit
Amount Reduction Act of 2005.
Malpractice Used for OPPS 1 999.99 The OPPS Payment Amount calculated using these values is compared
to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to determine appicability of the
Payment Amount OPPS Imaging Cap mandated by Section 5102(b) of the Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005.
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ATTACHMENT A
STATUS CODE A = Active Code. These codes are paid separately under the physician fee
schedule, if covered. There will be RVUs for codes with this status.
The presence of an "A" indicator does not mean that Medicare has
made a national coverage determination regarding the service; carriers
remain responsible for coverage decisions in the absence of a national
Medicare policy.
B = Bundled Code. Payment for covered services are always bundled into
payment for other services not specified. If RVUs are shown, they are
not used for Medicare payment. If these services are covered, payment
for them is subsumed by the payment for the services to which they are
incident. (An example is a telephone call from a hospital nurse
regarding care of a patient).
C = Carriers price the code. Carriers will establish RVUs and payment
amounts for these services, generally on an individual case basis
following review of documentation such as an operative report.
D = Deleted Codes. These codes are deleted effective with the beginning
of the applicable year. These codes will not appear on the 2006 file as
the grace period for deleted codes is no longer applicable.
G = Not valid for Medicare purposes. Medicare uses another code for
reporting of, and payment for, these services. (Code subject to a 90
day grace period.) These codes will not appear on the 2006 file as the
grace period for deleted codes is no longer applicable.
I= Not valid for Medicare purposes. Medicare uses another code for
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reporting of, and payment for, these services. (Code NOT subject to a
90 day grace period.)
T = Injections. There are RVUS and payment amounts for these services,
but they are only paid if there are no other services payable under the
physician fee schedule billed on the same date by the same provider. If
any other services payable under the physician fee schedule are billed
on the same date by the same provider, these services are bundled into
the physician services for which payment is made. (NOTE: This is a
change from the previous definition, which states that injection services
are bundled into any other services billed on the same date.)
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8= Physician interpretation codes: This indicator identifies
the professional component of clinical laboratory codes
for which separate payment may be made only if the
physician interprets an abnormal smear for hospital
inpatient. This applies to CPT codes 88141, 85060 and
HCPCS code P3001-26. No TC billing is recognized
because payment for the underlying clinical laboratory
test is made to the hospital, generally through the PPS
rate.
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