title: Current procedural terminology, Resource-based Relative Value Scale, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services: overview.
abstract: Coding and payment methodology for physician professional services has been standardized through the introduction of the Current Procedural Terminology, which is maintained by the American Medical Association. The codes contained within this dataset are used by health care professionals to describe their services to payers. Inherent in the development of the procedural codes, the Resource Based Relative Value Scale Update Committee recommends physician work relative value units and practice expense and professional liability inputs to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This article provides an overview of the processes in place that permit regular updates in physician payment continually to be updated.
authors.affiliation: Indiana Medical Associates, 7900 West Jefferson Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46804, USA. wiersema.maurits@comcast.net
authors.forename: Maurits J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wiersema
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mergener
mesh_terms: D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D039702:Current Procedural Terminology / Q000266:history; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D015442:Medicare Assignment; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D015895:Relative Value Scales; D014481:United States