DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFAREDeletion of Procedure Codes from the Medical Assistance Program Fee Schedule for Psychologists [32 Pa.B. 6401] The Department of Public Welfare (Department) announces that effective January 1, 2003, it is deleting certain procedure codes from the Medical Assistance (MA) Program Fee Schedule--Expanded Services for Children Under 21 Years of Age--Provider Type 41 (Fee Schedule for Psychologists). This will be accomplished by revising and reissuing the MA Fee Schedule for Psychologists that was attached to MA Bulletin No. 01-01-09; 41-01-06, Additional Place-of-Service (Office) for Psychotherapy, issued June 1, 2001, and effective June 1, 2001. This change affects only services rendered by psychologists.
The Department, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society and Pennsylvania Psychological Association, has determined that procedure codes 99201--99353 are not within a psychologist's scope of practice. In addition, section 3(2) of the Professional Psychologists Practice Act (63 P. S. § 1203(2)) prohibits persons licensed as psychologists from engaging in any manner in the practice of the healing arts as defined in the laws of the Commonwealth. Accordingly, the Department is eliminating these codes for psychologists.
The procedure codes to be deleted are as follows:
99201 99202 99203 99204 99205 99211 99212 99213 99214 99215 99231 99232 99233 99241 99242 99243 99244 99245 99251 99252 99253 99254 99255 99271 99272 99273 99274 99275 99341 99342 99343 99351 99352 99353 Section 1150.61(a) of 55 Pa. Code (relating to guidelines for fee schedule changes) authorizes the Department to publish a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin when fees are changed and when procedures, services or items are added to, or deleted from, the MA Program Fee Schedule.
Fiscal Impact
No fiscal impact is anticipated.
Contact Person
A copy of this notice is available for review at local County Assistance Offices. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to this notice to the Department of Public Welfare, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, c/o Deputy Secretary's Office, Attention: Regulations Coordinator, Room 515, Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120.
Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Service, (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users).
FEATHER O. HOUSTOUN,
SecretaryFiscal Note: 14-NOT-342. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-2325. Filed for public inspection December 27, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]
