
		      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.

