1. A bipartisan Congressional majority has put pressure on CMS to finalize a federal regulation that would overhaul prior authorization within Medicare Advantage. Congress is pushing CMS to add real-time electronic prior authorization decisions, allowing for faster approvals for ASCs.
2. CMS plans to add 26 dental surgical codes to the ASC payable list for next year. ASCA pitched 62 other surgical codes routinely performed in ASCs for non-Medicare patients, including total shoulder replacements, but CMS declined to add them.
3. CMS is floating a 3.34 percent conversion factor decrease in its proposed Medicare physician fee schedule for 2024. The proposed physician fee schedule conversion factor for 2024 is $32.75, down 3.34 percent from $33.89 in 2023.
4. CMS pitched a 2.8 percent average rate increase for ASCs next year in the 2024 hospital outpatient prospective payment system. It would also change the quality reporting program and extend the five-year interim period of using the same pay update factor for ASCs and HOPDs by two years.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.