A 0.5 percent Medicare physician payment increase will go into effect for dates of service from July 1 through December 31, 2015. This mid-year increase is a result of the Medicare payment reform legislation (the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act), passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in April.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the updated RVU files reflecting the payment increase and the new conversion factor of $35.9335 (previously $35.7547). 

Noridian, the Medicare Administrative Contractor for California, has posted on its website the new fee schedule that will be in effect from July 1 through December 31, 2015. There will be an additional 0.5 percent increase on January 1, 2016.