CMS final rule increases ASC pay 1.9% in 2017: 5 things to know

CMS released the final 2017 ASC payment rule with plans to increase payment rates next year, and ASCA outlined the key components for ASCs.

Here are five things to know about the final rule:

1. 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.

2. The hospital outpatient departments will receive a 1.65 percent. CMS is implementing Section 603 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, stating certain off-campus provider-based departments will be paid under the physician fee schedule beginning Jan. 1, 2017.

3. 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 ASCA advocating for several other codes, CMS reported the codes didn't meet criteria for inclusion, but the missing criteria wasn't explained.

4. 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

5. To meet reporting requirements, ASCs must have 300 completed surveys and the survey "will need to be operational in facilities by 2018." ASCA plans to continue advocacy efforts to reduce the length and number of completed surveys necessary before OAS CAHPS is fully implemented.

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