CMS Publishes Proposed CY 2009 HOPPS Rule

July 16, 2008 – On July 7, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that makes changes to the hospital outpatient prospective payment system (HOPPS). CMS also outlined its proposed payment rates for ambulatory surgical centers (ASC). Once finalized, these changes would apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2009.

CMS proposes to raise the base outpatient prospective payment rate by the full market basket increase of 3.0 percent. If the rule is finalized as is, major teaching hospitals would receive an overall increase in HOPPS payments of 3.9 percent in 2009, compared to an average of 3.5 percent for minor teaching hospitals and non-teaching hospitals.

ASH has prepared an in-depth analysis and will be submitting comments to CMS by the September 2 deadline. Please contact Carol Schwartz if you have any questions or would like additional information.