OOSS Submits Comments to CMS on 2021 Proposed ASC Payment Regulation

On October 5, OOSS submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding its proposed 2021 ASC payment regulation. The comments were submitted on behalf of ASCRS, the American Society of Retinal Specialists (ASRS), and the Society for Excellence in Eyecare (SEE), according to the OOSS.

According to an OOSS statement emailed to members, a few highlights of the comments include:

• For years, we have strenuously objected to CMS’ use of the Consumer Price Index (Urban) as the update factor for ASCs. In 2019, CMS adopted instead the Hospital Market Basket (HMB) as the ASC annual update factor (which is typically about a point higher) for the period 2019 through 2023. We recommended that CMS permanently utilize the HMB as our update factor.
  
• We recommended that the agency discontinue the rescaling of ASC relative weights and apply full HOPD relative weights to ASC services. Re-scaling has had the effect of arbitrarily and inappropriately reducing ASC payment rates and causing a substantial divergence in payment rates between HOPDs and ASCs that is unrelated to the costs of delivering services in those settings.
  
• We continued to support a proposed ASC quality measure on TASS that was developed by the ASC Quality Collaboration (on whose Board OOSS sits).
  
• We strongly urged CMS to remove FDA-approved intracameral drugs that are used for pain and inflammation as a “covered service” within our facility fee and pay for them separately under Medicare Part B.

Review our full comments to CMS on the ASC Rule.

ASC payment and regulatory issues will be covered in detail at the OOSS SUMMIT on October 24. All are welcome and event participation is free.  Register here.