103 STAT. 2210 PUBLIC LAW 101-239—DEC. 19, 1989 42 USC 1395m note. 42 USC 1395m note. Regulations. 42 USC 1395u note. SEC. 6105. REDUCTION IN PAYMENTS FOR RADIOLOGY SERVICES. (a) FEE SCHEDULES FOR RADIOLOGIST SERVICES REDUCED. — Section 1834(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(b)(4)) is amend- ed— (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subpara- graphs (D) and (E), and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph: "(C) 1990 FEE SCHEDULES. — For radiologist services (other than portable X-ray services) furnished under this part during 1990, after March 31 of such year, the conversion ' factors used under this subsection shall be 96 percent of the conversion factors that applied under this subsection as of December 31, 1989. ". (b) SPECIAL RULE FOR NUCLEAR MEDICINE PHYSICIANS. —In apply- ing section 1834(b) of the Social Security "Act with respect to nuclear medicine services furnished by a physician for whom nuclear medi- cine services account for at least 80 percent of the total amount of charges made under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act— (1) during 1990, after April 1, 1990, there shall be substituted for the fee schedule otherwise applicable a fee schedule based Vs on the fee schedule computed under such section (without regard to this subsection) and % on 101 percent of the 1988 prevailing charge for such services; and (2) during 1991, there shall be substituted for the fee schedule otherwise applicable a fee schedule based % on the fee schedule computed under such section (without regard to this subsection) and Vs on 101 percent of the 1988 prevailing charge for such services. (c) INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGISTS.— In applying section 1834(b) of the Social Security Act to radiologist services furnished in 1990, the exception for "split billing" set forth at section 5262J of the Medi- care Carriers Manual shall apply to services furnished in 1990 in the same manner and to the same extent as the exception applied to services furnished in 1989. SEC. 6106. ANESTHESIA SERVICES. (a) COUNTING ACTUAL TIME UNITS FOR ANESTHESIA SERVICES AND CODIFICATION OF PREVIOUS AUTHORITY. —Section 1842 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(q)(1) The Secretary, in consultation with groups representing {>hysicians who furnish anesthesia services, shall establish by regu- ation a relative value guide for use in all carrier localities in making payment for physician anesthesia services furnished under this part. Such guide shall be designed so as to result in expendi- tures under this title for such services in an amount that would not exceed the amount of such expenditures which would otherwise occur. "(2) For purposes of payment for anesthesia services (whether furnished by physicians or by certified roistered nurse anesthetists) under this part, the time units shall be counted based on actual time rather than rounded to full time units.". (b) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to services furnished on or after April 1, 1990.
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