Effective Date: January 1, 2009

Implementation Date: January 5, 2009

This article and change request (CR) 6221 provides instructions to contractors on how to calculate reasonable charges for the payment of claims for splints, casts, dialysis supplies, dialysis equipment, and intraocular lenses furnished in calendar year 2009.

Contractors shall use the 2009 reasonable charges or payment limits, as outlined in the attachment to the MLN Matters article MM6221, to pay claims for items furnished from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009.

The 2009 payment limits for splints and casts will be based on the 2008 limits that were announced in the change request for the 2007 update (CR 5740). Payment limits will increase by 5.0 percent, which matches the percentage change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2008.

Additional information is available on the CMS Web site. Here is the link to the MLN Matters article MM6221 .