Here are five recent legislative and policy changes impacting ASCs in the last month.
Congress approves 2-year budget cut for provider payments
Congress passed a two-year budget deal that includes a 2 percent cut in Medicare provider payments. The budget cut raises funding levels and suspends the debt limit until 2017.Congress approved the healthcare budget cuts to generate the funding needed to offset other budget increases across the federal government.
CMS adds 17 new ASC payable codes
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released 17 new ASC payable codes along with the 2016 ASC payment rule. Since the proposed rules, CMS has added six additional codes. Click here for a list for the payable codes.
CMS finalizes hip, knee bundled payment program
CMS finalized a new payment model that holds acute care hospitals accountable for the quality of care they deliver to Medicare beneficiaries for hip and knee replacement from surgery through recovery. The regulations are effective on Jan. 15, 2016 and applicable on April 1, 2016. The CJR Model will be implemented in 67 metropolitan statistical areas.
CMS extends 2014 informal review of PQRS negative payment adjustment
CMS extended the 2014 informal review period for individual eligible professionals and group practices participating in the Physician Quality Reporting System that think they have been incorrectly assessed the 2016 PQRS negative payment adjustment. PQRS participants have until Nov. 23 to submit a request for an informal review wherein CMS will investigate the issue.
Colorado voters to vote on single-payer healthcare system
On the 2016 ballot, Colorado voters have the opportunity to weigh in on the single-payer healthcare system. In the single-payer system, residents could choose their own healthcare providers, but ColoradoCare would pay the bill. Therefore, ColoradoCare would raise $25 billion for healthcare costs via a 10 percent payroll tax, doubling the current state budget.
More healthcare news:
20 statistics on ASC staff hours per case
James Cote joins BayCare as SVP of ambulatory services: 5 things to know
The crux of healthcare — How the healthcare system benefits from bundling episodes of care