In its 2018 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule, CMS stated it was open to considering adding some cardiac catheterization services, cardiac device programming services and electrophysiology services to its covered surgical procedure list, according to an article Ronald Hirsch, MD, published in RAC monitor.
Here's what you should know:
1. CMS posted 482 comments it received on the proposed rule Sept. 6. Of these comments, Texas ASCs comprised more than 150.
2. In the comments, ASC representatives supported CMS allowing cardiac procedures in ASCs.
3. While CMS did not explicitly state which procedures it was referencing for consideration, Dr. Hirsch speculates officials would consider adding elective cardiac catheterization to the list.
4. CMS currently allows peripheral angioplasty and stenting in ASCs, and some surgery centers are performing cardiac and electrophysiologic procedures.
5. Healthcare leaders can post comments on the OPPS proposed rule until Sept. 11.