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CMS To Pay Co-Surgeons For Transcatheter Valve Procedures, But At Lower Value Than Sought By Physicians

Surgeons and cardiologists who perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures will be paid for the total amount of their work in 2013, but CMS’ adoption of a lower relative value unit for TAVR will result in a lower payment amount.

Clinicians who perform transcatheter aortic valve replacements reacted favorably to CMS’ decision to continue its co-surgery payment policy for the procedure in the 2013 final physician fee schedule, but the agency’s use of lower-than-recommended work relative value units for TAVR was less than welcome.

In its final rule, issued Nov. 1, CMS opted to set RVUs to “reflect the total physician work...

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