CMS’ proposed rules for hospital outpatient departments and ASCs includes plans to remove several orthopedic procedures from its inpatient-only list.
The plan would phase out the IPO list over three years, starting with the removal of 285 mostly musculoskeletal procedures in 2026.
“CMS believes that the evolving nature of the practice of medicine allows more procedures to be performed on an outpatient basis with a shorter recovery time,” the agency said July 15. “This proposal would allow for these services to be paid by Medicare in the hospital outpatient setting when determined to be clinically appropriate, giving physicians greater flexibility in determining the most appropriate site of service.”
CMS’ proposal also includes a 2.4% pay increase for hospitals meeting quality reporting requirements and a 2.4% pay bump for ASCs.
