The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has contracted with RAND Corporation, a global research organization, to review the previously used method to collect indirect practice expense (PE) data. Indirect PE refers to administrative and overhead costs associated with a practice. It is calculated into PE relative value units, which impact physician reimbursement. The current indirect PE data was collected in 2007 and 2008 as part of the Physician Practice Information Survey (PPIS) and has not been updated.
As part of its review, RAND recently hosted a town hall meeting to address its efforts and solicit input from stakeholders about how to best collect accurate practice information representative of all specialties. Following the town hall, the American College of Radiology® (ACR®), the American Society of Neuroradiology and the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging submitted comments to RAND that outline the associations’ concerns with the previous PPIS.
The ACR remains engaged with CMS and RAND on this effort.