On July 13, 2023, CMS published a proposed rule to update the payment policies, payment rates, and other provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Ambulatory...more
On December 2, 2020, CMS issued a Final Rule finalizing revisions to the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment system for Calendar Year (CY)...more
On December 2, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year 2021 Final Rule implementing changes to the Medicare hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently reversed a district court ruling and upheld the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services site-neutrality payment cuts for off-campus outpatient hospital clinic visits....more
On December 16, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that its 2019 decision invalidating the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) site-neutral payment cuts does not automatically vacate...more
Despite a court ruling against its site-neutral policy in September 2019, in the Calendar Year (CY) 2020 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule, released on November 1, 2019, the Centers for Medicare...more
On July 25, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released proposed policy and payment updates affecting the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC)...more
There are now multiple proposals in the House and Senate for substantive changes to the 340B Drug Discount Program. The odds of a legislative “fix” to 340B are increasing. But independent of congressional action, is CMS...more
On December 11, 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a guidance entitled, Product Name Placement, Size, and Prominence in Promotional Labeling and Advertisements. The guidance clarifies the requirements for...more
On Nov. 2, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule changing reimbursement rates under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for certain non-excepted hospital off-campus provider-based...more
CMS Provides Update Regarding Patient Status Review Delay – On July 27, 2016 CMS posted an update regarding Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) reviews of patient status claims, which are currently paused. CMS notes that...more
For those in the hospital industry hoping for additional clarity regarding the operation and billing of provider-based departments (PBDs), the CY 2017 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Proposed Rule provides some...more
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published its 2017 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rule on July 14, 2016 (the Proposed Rule). In part, the Proposed Rule addresses CMS’s...more
On July 6, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its CY 2017 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Proposed Rule. The Proposed Rule includes several provisions regarding how CMS will...more
On October 30, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule updating the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System for...more
On October 30, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year 2016 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule (2016 OPPS Final Rule). In the 2016 OPPS Final Rule, CMS finalizes...more
On November 2, 2015, President Obama signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, a two-year budget deal with a key provision affecting hospitals and other health care providers. Effective January 1, 2017, the Act decreases the...more
On October 28, 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that, if enacted, would, among other things, substantially alter how and how much Medicare pays for outpatient services furnished by hospitals. The...more
CMS and AMA Announce Efforts to Help Providers Get Ready for ICD-10 – On July 6, 2015, CMS and AMA announced efforts to continue to assist providers to get ready for the upcoming October 1 switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 coding...more
On July 1, 2015, CMS released a Proposed Rule that would revise the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Payment System payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2016, and would...more
CMS just introduced proposed rules to clarify the requirements and payment opportunities when hospitals want to bill Medicare for Chronic Care Management (“CCM”) services. CCM is an exciting service covered by Medicare...more
On July 1, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released proposed updates to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System for Calendar Year...more