The ACC has submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed 2021 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payments Systems (OPPS) rule.

The detailed comments focus on seven key areas: 1) Ambulatory Surgery Center Services; 2) Inpatient Only List; 3) Imaging Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Assignments; 4) Fractional Flow Reserve Computed Tomography (FFRCT); 5) Prior Authorization; 6) Separate Payment and Medical Devices; and 7) Physician-owned Hospital Expansion. Several of the comments, including those related to prior authorization, separate payments, and level of supervision of pulmonary, cardiac and intensive cardiac rehabilitation services, urge CMS to consider the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on patients, physicians, and the medical community as a whole. Read the comments.

ACC Advocacy leaders and staff will continue to engage with CMS on all of these issues. The final rule is expected later this fall.

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team, COVID-19 Hub

Keywords: ACC Advocacy, Coronavirus, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S., Prior Authorization, Ambulatory Surgical Procedures, COVID-19, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Medicaid, Medicare, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Ambulatory Care Facilities

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