CMS reversed its decision on Philadelphia-based Wills Eye Institute, agreeing to reclassify the facility as a hospital, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports.
Here's what you should know.
1. Wills Eye has been embroiled in several legal battles since 2006, when CMS reclassified the center as an ASC after it sold its inpatient business..
2. After a lengthy hearing and appeals process, CMS changed the designation on the grounds of new federal guidelines issued in 2017. The guidelines supersede previous requirements that forced hospitals to meet a certain inpatient-to-outpatient ratio.
3. Because Wills Eye sold its inpatient beds in 2006, it could not meet that ratio and thus, CMS designated it as an ASC.
4. As a result of the new hospital designation, Wills Eye Institute will be able to perform more complex procedures and receive a higher reimbursement rate.
5. In a statement, the facility said, "We are pleased to learn of the CMS decision. We very much appreciate the tireless efforts of our senators and the Pennsylvania congressional delegation to advocate for the patients of Wills Eye Hospital. We are grateful to CMS to have the opportunity to move forward, and we remain committed to providing the highest-level hospital care to our patients."