The American Hospital Association submitted comments for the 2027 Outpatient PPS and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Proposed Rule, including its opposition to the expansion of the ASC covered procedures list, according to an Aug. 28 letter from the organization.
Here are four things to know:
- The AHA opposed the expansion of the covered procedures list, citing safety concerns about the “weakened standard” and general exclusion criteria.
- The AHA said the proposed 2.4% net payment update does not keep up with the financial headwinds hospitals and health systems are facing.
- The organization recommended that CMS return to its standard process from 2025 for removing procedures from the inpatient-only list.
- According to the AHA, the proposed rule would negatively affect beneficiary access to hospital-level care and increase regulatory burden.
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