SPOTLIGHT: Reimbursement rates for wireless monitoring

A group of CMS-designated Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities will fight a plan to cut Medicare reimbursement rates for wireless cardiac monitoring services starting in the fall. A Swiss monitoring firm confirms the opposition in saying that it has received notice from Highmark Medicare Services that the Pennsylvania Medicare carrier will reduce payments by nearly a third--to $754 from the current $1,123--beginning Sept. 1. Expect thousands of small battles like this as payers try to reform healthcare by encouraging less-costly tests rather than cutting-edge diagnostics. Press release