Last week, CMS finalized two policy rules impacting payment to physicians, hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Cuts to physician payments were so severe, our societies immediately alerted their members to press Congress to stop the cuts. Don’t forget to do your part. Tell Congress to pass the “Holding Providers Harmless from Medicare Cuts Act” (H.R. 8702), which provides a two-year reprieve while the GI societies and other specialties work toward a permanent resolution.
Good news: Changes finalized in the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and ASC Final Rule were largely positive. The conversion factors for both hospitals and ASCs meeting quality reporting requirements increased 2.5 percent.
2021 conversion factors
- $82.797 for hospitals meeting facility quality reporting requirements
- $48.952 for ASCs meeting the quality reporting requirements
Here are the key things to know for the OPPS and ASC final rule
- No ASC cost reporting requirements
- CMS finalized approval for:
- HCPCS code C1748 (Endoscope, single-use (that is, disposable), upper GI, imaging/illumination device (insertable)) which can be used for EXALT™ Model D Single-Use Duodenoscope, Ambu aScope™ Duodeno or any FDA approved single-use, disposable duodenoscope through June 30, 2023
- Device pass-through payment status for Hemospray® Endoscopic Hemostat
- Device pass-through payment status for EXALT™ Model D Single-Use Duodenoscope under the alternative pathway
2021 OPPS and ASC payment tables
- 2021 OPPS payments for GI services
- 2021 OPPS payment chart for top 10 base and biopsy codes
- 2021 ASC payments for GI services
- 2021 ASC payment chart for top 10 base and biopsy codes
