FeeCalc for Windows v1.2 Copyright (c) 1994 by Information Consulting TABLE OF CONTENTS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1. INTRODUCTION 2. DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE 3. INSTALLATION 4. REGISTRATION INFORMATION 5. DISTRIBUTION POLICY 6. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY 7. ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT 1. INTRODUCTION --------------- FeeCalc is based on the Resource Based Relative Value System (RBRVS) as defined by the the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1989. There are 4 general components defined by this act which together are refered to as Physician Payment Reform (PPR), these components are: 1. Medicare payments for physician services are now based on a Resource Based Relative Value System (RBRVS) which defines a national Fee Schedule. This Fee Schedule is based on and objective measure of the normal costs physicians incur in rendering a service instead of the subjective "customary/ prevailing charge" of the old system. 2. Medicare Volume Performance Standards (MVPSs) have been established to monitor annual increases in Medicare Part B payments and calculate future adjustments to these payments. 3. Sweeping reforms to beneficiary financial protections. 4. Medical policies and reimbursements were substantially standardized across Medicare carriers. Although the government has long be an opponent of fixed pricing within the medical community, it has endorsed the concept of relative value pricing since 1985. The development of the national RBRVS is but one of many such studies on the relative cost of medical procedures. FeeCalc allows any Relative Value Study (RVS) to be used, but is tailored to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) RBRVS. Payments under the HCFA RBRVS Fee Schedule are based on 4 separate pieces of information: 1. The Relative Value Units (RVUs) for each service (CPT). These RVUs are established nationally and define the relative payment of every procedure code. 2. The Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCIs) for the locality where the service was rendered. GPCIs are established by each Medicare carrier to provide for minor adjustments to the nationally defined RVU. 3. The national Conversion Factor (CF). This is a single number which is recalculated annually to create a uniform adjustment to the Medicare Fee Schedule. 4. Also, some Medicare schedule fee changes in 1992 (when RBRVS was adopted) were so far different from the pre-1991 fees that HCFA decided to implement a 5-year transition plan to move the schedule fee from the old (pre-1992) fee to the new fee. This transition plan affects all CPTs where the pre-1992 fee is more than +/- 15% different from the new fee. The FeeCalc program was designed to be used to calculate a recommend patient charge for a given procedure using either: 1. A Calculated Conversion Factor; or 2. A User Supplied Conversion Factor (possibly from a national or state RVU study). Note that this mode is only available after the program has been registered. In either mode, FeeCalc allows for input of all 3 components of RVU on a per procedure basis and the input of the 3 components of GPCI on a per practice basis. In order that Unregistered Users may full analyze FeeCalc's capabilities, a session specific (temporary) registration is allowed from within the registration dialog. Note that this registration will not become a permanent part of the program without the registration password. 2. DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE -------------------------- Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware. Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. 3. INSTALLATION --------------- As distributed by Information Consulting, the FeeCalc distribution Diskette includes a MS-Windows installation program called SETUP.EXE. To execute this program run A:\SETUP (or B:\SETUP) from the MS-Windows File/Run command and follow the on-screen instructions. The default directory for FeeCalc is C:\FEECALC. FeeCalc may also be downloaded from a bulletin board as 1 or 2 ZIP files, as follows: File FCAL12_1.ZIP (UNZIP in it's own directory - C:\FEECALC) FC.EXE FeeCalc program file FeeCalc.HLP FeeCalc help file Sample1.CSV Sample with Calculated Conversion Factor Sample2.CSV Sample with User Supplied Conversion Factor Order.FRM Registration Form README.TXT This file File FCAL12_2.ZIP (Optional UNZIP for \WINDOWS\SYSTEM) CMDIALOG.VBX dated 4/28/93 or later GRID.VBX dated 4/28/93 or later VBRUN300.DLL dated 5/12/93 or later VER.DLL dated 9/10/93 or later Either way, to run FeeCalc just double click on the its icon. There is complete documentation and information on how to use FeeCalc in the on-line Help. 4. REGISTRATION INFORMATION --------------------------- FeeCalc is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. If you find this program useful and find that you are using FeeCalc and continue to use it after the end of the 30-day trial period, you must make a reg- istration payment of $25.00 to Information Consulting. The $25.00 registration fee will license FeeCalc for use by any one office at any one time. This is basically a site license agreement. Registrations may be mailed to: Information Consulting 115 Ridgeview Dr. Athens, GA 30606-3857 Registered users are provided 30 days of free technical support. This support is available by phone Monday-Friday, except national holidays, from 8:00am - 5:00pm Eastern Time. Voice: 706-548-0709 FAX: 706-548-5701 CompuServe: 72643,2626 5. DISTRIBUTION POLICY ---------------------- Re-distribution by any media, disk, on-line services, Internet ftp servers or BBSes, is expressly encouraged. You can distribute it freely, but please note the following: 1. The files and programs on the disks cannot be modified in any way, and must always be distributed together. FeeCalc consists of the following files: FeeCalc.EXE FeeCalc program file FeeCalc.HLP FeeCalc help file Sample1.CSV Sample with Calculated Conversion Factor Sample2.CSV Sample with User Supplied Conversion Factor Order.FRM Registration Form README.TXT This file These files are included on the FeeCalc distribution diskettes in the file FCAL21_1.ZIP; 2. FeeCalc is written in Visual Basic 3.0 and requires the following files be present in the user's WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory: CMDIALOG.VBX dated 4/28/93 or later GRID.VBX dated 4/28/93 or later VBRUN300.DLL dated 5/12/93 or later VER.DLL dated 9/10/93 or later These files are included on the FeeCalc distribution diskettes in the file FCAL21_2.ZIP; 3. Vendors or distributors must inform the users that this is a shareware program and provide them with information and capabilities for transfering the required ZIP file(s) and decompressing these files onto the user's system. Notice must also be given that seperate registration to the author is required if they use this program after the evaluation period. 6. DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT ------------------------- Users of FeeCalc must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "FeeCalc is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or conse- quential, which may result from the use of FeeCalc." Anyone distributing FeeCalc for any kind of remuneration must first contact Information Consulting at the address below for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering FeeCalc immediately (However Information Consulting must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of FeeCalc.). You are encouraged to pass a copy of FeeCalc along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it. 7. ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT ------------------------------------------------------------- _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER The author of FeeCalc, Terry Bond, is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon MI 49442 or send a Compuserve message to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.