--- title: Valuation Changes In Final Medicare Fee Schedule 2019 | HAP description: Understanding the annual changes in Medicare’s fee schedules is useful when analyzing areas where the practice’s revenue might be increasing or decreasing. image: https://info.hapusa.com/hubfs/Understanding%20The%20Valuation%20Changes%20In%20The%20Final%20Medicare%20Fee%20Schedule%20For%202019.jpg --- ![Understanding The Valuation Changes In The Final Medicare Fee Schedule For 2019](https://info.hapusa.com/hubfs/Understanding%20The%20Valuation%20Changes%20In%20The%20Final%20Medicare%20Fee%20Schedule%20For%202019.jpg) # Understanding The Valuation Changes In The Final Medicare Fee Schedule For 2019 - [Home](https://info.hapusa.com/) - [HAP Radiology Billing and Coding Blog](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0) - Understanding The Valuation Changes In The Final Medicare Fee Schedule For 2019 [ Sandy Coffta ](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/author/sandy-coffta) 02/27/2019 ## Understanding The Valuation Changes In The Final Medicare Fee Schedule For 2019 ![Understanding The Valuation Changes In The Final Medicare Fee Schedule For 2019](https://info.hapusa.com/hubfs/Understanding%20The%20Valuation%20Changes%20In%20The%20Final%20Medicare%20Fee%20Schedule%20For%202019.jpg "Understanding The Valuation Changes In The Final Medicare Fee Schedule For 2019") ![Understanding The Valuation Changes In The Final Medicare Fee Schedule For 2019 Healthcare Administrative Partners](https://info.hapusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Understanding%20The%20Valuation%20Changes%20In%20The%20Final%20Medicare%20Fee%20Schedule%20For%202019.jpg?width=300&name=Understanding%20The%20Valuation%20Changes%20In%20The%20Final%20Medicare%20Fee%20Schedule%20For%202019.jpg)Our review of the proposed [2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS)](https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/PhysicianFeeSched/PFS-Federal-Regulation-Notices-Items/CMS-1693-P.html) showed that 201 Professional Component (PC) codes and 213 Global codes were to be decreased by at least 1% in the Diagnostic Radiology 70000-series of CPT codes.  In the final MPFS, only 46 PC codes were reduced by 1% or more, but 280 global codes were reduced by at least 1%.  The number of codes expected to *increase* in payment did not change as dramatically, but in both PC and Global billing fewer codes were increased than we expected.  Here are the details:   |   | **Professional Component** | **Global** | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Number of codes with a: | **Proposed** | **Final** | **Proposed** | **Final** | | Decrease of 1% or more | 201 | 46 | 213 | 280 | | Increase of 1% or more | 47 | 45 | 187 | 172 | | Change of less than 1% | 342 | 474 | 150 | 77 | | **Total Procedure Codes** | **590** | **565** | **550** | **529** | ### Diagnostic Radiology As we reported in our recent [Coding Changes That Will Impact Radiology Practices in 2019](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/coding-changes-that-will-impact-radiology-practices-in-2019), the two Breast MRI codes for unilateral and bilateral were replaced by four new codes that provide for the distinct billing of non-contrast exams, which previously had to be billed using the with/without contrast codes.    |   | **Professional Component** | **Global** | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Description** | **2019** | **Comparable 2018** | **2019** | **Comparable 2018** | | 77046 MRI Breast, without contrast, unilateral | $74.24 | $83.52 | $252.99 | $552.23 | | 77047 MRI Breast, without contrast, bilateral | $82.17 | $83.52 | $259.84 | $549.71 | | 77048 MRI Breast, without and with contrast, unilateral | $107.40 | $83.52 | $401.84 | $552.23 | | 77049 MRI Breast, without and with contrast, bilateral | $117.49 | $83.52 | $410.49 | $549.71 |   The result of these changes is a slight decrease in the ‘without contrast’ professional component and a significant increase in the ‘without and with contrast’ professional component.  The technical component was drastically reduced by 62% in the ‘without contrast’ exams and by 37% in the ‘without and with contrast’ exams, resulting in corresponding cuts in the global fees   Note that 77048 and 77049 also include computer-aided detection (CAD real-time lesion detection, characterization and pharmacokinetic analysis) when performed.  This bundling eliminates the separate use of HCPCS code 0159T, a locally-priced code that was previously added when performing CAD.   The proposed rule showed significant decreases for some neck and spine PC codes, but in the end those codes were actually increased slightly:   | **Description** | **CPT Code** | **Final 2019 Rate** | **Expected Change** | **Final Change** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Neck Spine 4/5 views | 72050-26 | $16.22 | (19.9%) | +0.1% | | L-2 Spine 4/> views | 72110-26 | $16.22 | (19.9%) | +0.1% | | Neck Spine 6/> views | 72052-26 | $18.74 | (19.1%) | +0.1% | | L-S Spine Bending | 72114-26 | $16.94 | (19.0%) | +0.1% |   Other PC procedures that fared well in the final rule compared with the proposed rule included MRI Brain, both with and without contrast (70557 and 70558).  These had been scheduled for a 7% decrease, but instead ended up with a 0.3% decrease at the final fee schedule amount of $160.01 and $176.23, respectively.    Procedures for which large increases had been proposed saw lesser increases, although the PC for CT Needle Biopsy was minimally *increased*, as was the global Transrectal Ultrasound.   | **Description** | **CPT Code** | **Professional Component** | **Global** | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Expected** | **Final** | **Expected** | **Final** | | | | Spine x-ray 1 view | 72020 | 50.2% | 0.1% | 25.6% | 3.3% | | Elbow x-ray 2 views | 73070 | 48.0% | 0.1% | 14.4% | (1.2%) | | Heel x-ray | 73650 | 43.7% | 0.1% | 11.8% | (1.2%) | | Forearm x-ray | 73090 | 37.7% | 0.1% | 24.8% | 8.3% | | Elbow x-ray 3+ views | 73080 | 32.2% | 0.1% | 4.6% | (5.5%) | | Sacrum tailbone x-ray | 72220 | 32.2% | 0.1% | 21.4% | 7.6% | | SI Joints x-ray <3 views | 72200 | 32.2% | 0.1% | 21.4% | 8.9% | | SI Joints x-ray 3+ views | 72202 | 18.7% | 0.1% | 13.0% | 5.5% | | CT for needle biopsy | 77012 | 28.4% | 29.0% | 22.0% | 21.1% | | MRA Upper Extremity w/wo | 73225 | (0.7%) | (1.1%) | 17.5% | 15.8% | | MRA Spine w/wo | 72159 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 21.1% | 19.4% | | DXA peripheral | 77081 | (6.3%) | (6.3%) | 20.2% | 17.6% | | Ultrasound AAA screening | 76706 | 0.1% | (1.2%) | 19.5% | 19.1% | | Ultrasound transrectal | 76872 | (3.0%) | (0.9%) | 28.5% | 31.8% |   A few global billing codes experienced unexpected changes: - CT Angiography Abdominal Arteries (75635) received a 13.6% cut whereas the proposal had been for a 0.3% increase. The final fee is $323.27 for this procedure.  - CT Angiography Abdomen & Pelvis, without/with contrast (74174) received a 10.4% increase rather than a 5.1% decrease. The final fee is $402.20 for this procedure. - Cardiac MRI with stress imaging (75559) received a 21.6% increase rather than a 1.1% decrease. The final fee is $460.22 for this procedure. It should be noted that all fees quoted here are from the national Medicare fee schedule, before adjustment for geographic indices.  ### Interventional Radiology Interventional Radiology took some losses in the 2019 fee schedule.  As proposed, the large decreases in PICC placements were retained in the final rule, and Nephrostomy catheter exchanges suffered a 9.1% decrease instead of a 10.4% increase.  Other proposed increases were retained but at a lower level:   | **Description** | **CPT Code** | **Proposed** | **Final** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Insert PICC catheter < age 5 | 36569 | (61.3%) | (61.3%) | | Insert PICC catheter age 5+ | 36568 | (57.2%) | (57.2%) | | Fine Needle Aspiration w/o imaging | 10021 | (21.8%) | (19.8%) | | Exchange Nephrostomy catheter | 50435 | 10.4% | (9.1%) | | Cystoscopy | 52000 | 11.6% | 14.1% | | Injection for Cholangiogram | 47531 | 11.7% | 10.0% | | Removal of biliary drainage catheter | 47537 | 12.1% | 10.6% | | Replace PICC catheter | 36584 | 70.4% | 67.9% | ### Analyzing Your Practice The result of all these changes on an individual practice can only be evaluated through a volume-weighted analysis.  This process involves gathering data from the previous year by CPT code that shows the number of times each procedure code was billed for Medicare patients.  The procedure volumes are multiplied by the 2018 Medicare fee schedule rates in one column, and again by the 2019 Medicare fee schedule rates in another column.  Totaling each column will reveal the total practice revenue for the previous year and the reimbursement that the practice could expect in the current year if the volume of each procedure was unchanged.   The percentage increase or decrease can then be calculated.    Medicare’s data predicts that the resulting change between 2018 and 2019 will be 0% for both diagnostic and interventional radiology.  However, if your practice performs more than the average number of procedures that had a large increase or decrease, your individual results will reflect that variation.  The same analysis can be applied to commercial payer fee schedules that are calculated as a percentage of the Medicare fee schedule. ### Conclusion Understanding the annual changes in Medicare’s fee schedules is useful when analyzing areas where the practice’s revenue might be increasing or decreasing.  Many commercial payers base their fees on the Medicare table, although not all of them make exactly the same changes, or at the same time, as Medicare does.  [The American College of Radiology (ACR)](https://www.acr.org/) always prepares a [detailed analysis of the MPFS](https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/NOINDEX/Advocacy/Advocacy-News/CY-2019-MPFS-Final-Rule-Detailed-Summary-Final.pdf?la=en) that contains background discussion of the current Medicare changes as well as information about what might be coming in future rule-making.   HAP will continue to keep you abreast of the Medicare payment system, and [subscribing to this blog](https://info.hapusa.com/subscribe-to-hap-medical-billing-and-coding-blog) is the best way to get the most current information available. *[Sandy Coffta](https://info.hapusa.com/download-a-copy-of-sandy-coffta-professional-summary) is the Vice President of Client Services at Healthcare Administrative Partners.*   **Related Articles**   [Researchers Asked for A Follow-Up System, And We’ve Got It](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/researchers-asked-for-a-follow-up-system-and-weve-got-it)   [Medicare’s AUC/CDS Mandate Will Begin Next Year](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/medicares-auc/cds-mandate-will-begin-next-year)   [The New Patient Refund and the Changing Landscape of Customer Satisfaction Trends in Healthcare](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/the-new-patient-refund-and-the-changing-landscape-of-customer-satisfaction-trends-in-healthcare)   [![Inside advice from radiology RCM experts](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/16707/f1acf195-e6b4-46f0-bdb2-e0bf10079237.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/16707/f1acf195-e6b4-46f0-bdb2-e0bf10079237)   --- #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/understanding-the-valuation-changes-in-the-final-medicare-fee-schedule-for-2019) - [Follow us on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/understanding-the-valuation-changes-in-the-final-medicare-fee-schedule-for-2019&text=Understanding%20The%20Valuation%20Changes%20In%20The%20Final%20Medicare%20Fee%20Schedule%20For%202019) - [Follow us on Linkedin ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/understanding-the-valuation-changes-in-the-final-medicare-fee-schedule-for-2019) - [Follow us on Mail ](mailto:?subject=Understanding%20The%20Valuation%20Changes%20In%20The%20Final%20Medicare%20Fee%20Schedule%20For%202019%20&%20body=https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/understanding-the-valuation-changes-in-the-final-medicare-fee-schedule-for-2019) - Follow us on Copy Copied to clipboard --- [ #### Researchers Asked for A Follow-Up System, And We’ve Got It ##### Previous Post ](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/researchers-asked-for-a-follow-up-system-and-weve-got-it) [#### Evaluate Your Radiology Practice’s In-House Revenue Cycle Management ##### Next Post ](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/evaluate-your-radiology-practices-in-house-revenue-cycle-management) ### Leave a Reply --- ## Related Posts [ radiology coding](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/radiology-coding), [ CPT codes](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/cpt-codes), [ diagnostic radiology](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/diagnostic-radiology) [ Erin Stephens ](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/author/erin-stephens) 10 February, 2026 #### [Coding Changes That Will Impact Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology Practices in 2026](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/radiology-coding-update-for-2026) The 2026 update to the Current Procedural Terminology[i] (CPT)®has 288 new codes, 46 revised codes,... [Read More](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/radiology-coding-update-for-2026) [ radiology reimbursement](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/radiology-reimbursement), [ medicare reimbursement](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/medicare-reimbursement), [ interventional radiology](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/interventional-radiology), [ MPFS](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/mpfs), [ diagnostic radiology](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/diagnostic-radiology) [ Sandy Coffta ](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/author/sandy-coffta) 30 July, 2025 #### [There Might Be Some Good News in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule For 2026](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/there-might-be-some-good-news-in-the-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-proposed-rule-for-2026) This article was published on July 30, 2025 and updated on August 21, 2025. The Proposed Rule... [Read More](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/there-might-be-some-good-news-in-the-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-proposed-rule-for-2026) [ interventional radiology](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/interventional-radiology), [ CPT codes](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/cpt-codes), [ diagnostic radiology](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/diagnostic-radiology), [ E&M](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/em), [ evaluation and management](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/topic/evaluation-and-management) [ Erin Stephens ](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/author/erin-stephens) 27 January, 2025 #### [Coding Changes That Will Impact Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology Practices in 2025](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/coding-changes-that-will-impact-diagnostic-interventional-radiology-practices) The 2025 update to the Current Procedural Terminology[i] (CPT)® has 270 new codes, 38 revised... [Read More](https://info.hapusa.com/blog-0/coding-changes-that-will-impact-diagnostic-interventional-radiology-practices)