Hospitals would be able to bill Medicare for pulmonary and intensive cardiac rehabilitation services furnished in outpatient departments beginning January 1, 2010 under a proposed rule issued by CMS. The proposed rule would also provide for payments to rural hospitals for kidney disease education services furnished in their outpatient departments for Medicare beneficiaries with Stage IV chronic kidney disease.
The proposals, which would implement provisions of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, were contained in a notice of proposed rulemaking that would revise payment policies and update the payment rates for services furnished to beneficiaries during CY 2010 in hospital outpatient departments. Additional proposals incorporate an adjustment for hospital pharmacy costs that would result in OPPS payment at the Average Sale Price plus four percent for most separately payable drugs and biologicals and would adapt current requirements for physician supervision of hospital outpatient services.
The NPRM also includes proposals for policy changes and payment rates for services in ambulatory surgical centers, which would continue the expansion of surgical procedures Medicare would cover when performed in ASCs.
The proposed rule has been published in the Federal Register. CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule until August 31, 2009, and will respond to comments in a final rule to be issued by November 1, 2009.
