3. Separate Fee Schedule Methodology for Anesthesia Services
Section 1848(b)(2)(B) of the Act specifies that the fee schedule amounts for anesthesia
services are to be based on a uniform relative value guide, with appropriate adjustment of an
anesthesia CF, in a manner to ensure that fee schedule amounts for anesthesia services are
consistent with those for other services of comparable value. Therefore, there is a separate fee
schedule methodology for anesthesia services. Specifically, we establish a separate CF for
anesthesia services and we utilize the uniform relative value guide, or base units, as well as time
units, to calculate the fee schedule amounts for anesthesia services. Since anesthesia services are not valued using RVUs, a separate methodology for locality adjustments is also necessary. This involves an adjustment to the national anesthesia CF for each payment locality.