2572 Medical Assistance program fee schedule additions

Medical Assistance Program Fee Schedule Additions

[36 Pa.B. 8019]
[Saturday, December 30, 2006]

   The purpose of this notice is to announce that the Department of Public Welfare (Department) is adding four laboratory procedure codes and accompanying modifiers and fees to the Medical Assistance (MA) Program Fee Schedule, effective January 2, 2007.

Fee Schedule Additions

   The Department is adding four laboratory procedure codes as part of a quality improvement initiative and to further its commitment to providing quality care to MA recipients. The addition of procedure codes 87491 and 87591 will enable the Department to more accurately monitor the use of these screenings. The addition of procedure codes 87517 and 87522 will facilitate the Department's ability to collect quality indicators and better measure the delivery of follow-up treatment for these conditions.

   The new procedure codes are as follows:

Procedure Code	Informational Modifier	Procedure Description	MA Fees
87491		Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Chlamydia trachomatis, amplified probe technique	$5.20
87491	FP	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Chlamydia trachomatis, amplified probe technique	$5.20
87517		Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Hepatitis B, quantification	$47.88
87522		Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Hepatitis C, quantification	$47.88
87591		Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Neisseria gonorrhea, amplified probe technique	$5.20
87591	FP	Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Neisseria gonorrhea, amplified probe technique	$5.20

Fiscal Impact

   The estimated cost for Fiscal Year 2006-2007 is $0.312 million ($0.148 million in State funds). The estimated cost for Fiscal Year 2007-2008 is $0.936 million ($0.446 million in State funds).

Public Comment

   Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding 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. Comments received will be reviewed and considered for any subsequent revisions to the MA Program Fee Schedule.

   Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service may submit comments using the AT&T Relay Service, [phone] (TDD users) or [phone] (voice users).

ESTELLE B. RICHMAN,   
Secretary

   Fiscal Note:  14-NOT-498. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2006-07 is $148,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2007-08 is $446,000; 2nd Succeeding Year 2008-09 is $447,000; 3rd Succeeding Year 2009-10 is $447,000; 4th Succeeding Year 2010-11 is $447,000; 5th Succeeding Year 2011-12 is $447,000; (4) 2005-06 Program--$945,950,000; 2004-05 Program--$842,991,000; 2003-04 Program--$677,979,000; (7) Medical Assistance--Outpatient; (8) recommends adoption. Funds have been included in the budget to cover these increases.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 06-2572. Filed for public inspection December 29, 2006, 9:00 a.m.]