Here are four legislative changes for ASC leaders to note.
CMS final rule increases ASC pay 1.9% in 2017
Payments to ASCs will increase 1.9 percent in 2017. The percentage increase is based on the 2.2 percent projected rate of inflation with 0.3 percentage point productivity adjustment which the ACA requires. The increase is larger than the proposed 1.2 percent increase released earlier this year.
CMS rule adds 10 ASC payable procedures next year
There are 10 new codes added to the ASC payable procedures list for next year. The codes include spinal fusions, spinal fixation device insertion, spinal prosthetic devices, interbody biomechanical device insertion and intervertebral biomechanical device insertion. Despite American Surgery Center Association advocating for several other codes, CMS reported the codes didn't meet criteria for inclusion, but the missing criteria wasn't explained.
New CMS rule adds 7 new quality reporting measures to the ASC Quality Reporting Program for the 2020 payment determinations
There were seven new quality reporting measures added to the ASC Quality Reporting Program for the 2020 payment determinations. Two of the measures require ASCs to submit data to CMS through a web-based tool — ASC-13: Normothermia Outcome and ASC-14: Unplanned Anterior Virectomy. The five finalized measures that are based on the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems include:
• ASC-15a: OAS CAHPS — About Facilities and Staff
• ASC-15b: OAS CAHPS — Communication About Procedure
• ASC-15c: OAS CAHPS — Preparation for Discharge and Recovery
• ASC-15d: OAS CAHPS — Overall Rating of Facility
• ASC-15e: OAS CAHPS — Recommendation of Facility
CMS reduces meaningful use reporting period to 90 days
CMS cut the reporting period for physicians involved in the meaningful use EHR inventive program from a full year to 90 days as part of its outpatient prospective payment system final rule. For new meaningful use participants who are transitioning to CMS' Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, the final rule finalized a one-time hardship exception. Such participants can report once next year to meet meaningful use criteria and MIPS' Advancing Care Information section, thereby evading a negative payment adjustment in 2018. For more on the reporting period, click here.