Outpatient PPS

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) July 10 released its calendar year (CY) 2025 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) proposed rule. The rule would increase OPPS rates by a net 2.6% in CY 2025 compared to CY 2024. 

CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule through Sept. 9.

AHA TAKE

According to a statement by AHA Senior Vice President of Public Policy Analysis and Development Ashley Thompson, “CMS has yet again proposed an inadequate update to hospital payments. This proposed increase for outpatient hospital services of only 2.6% comes despite the fact that many hospitals across the country continue to operate on negative or very thin margins that make providing care and investing in their workforce very challenging. Hospitals’ and health systems’ ability to continue caring for patients and providing essential services for their communities may be in jeopardy, and we urge CMS to provide additional support in the final rule.” 

“The AHA fully shares CMS’ goals of improving maternal health outcomes and reducing inequities in maternal care. However, we are deeply concerned by CMS’ continued and excessive use of Conditions of Participation to drive its policy agenda. We believe a less punitive and more collaborative and flexible approach is far superior. We will carefully review CMS’ proposals to determine whether they are feasible, sufficiently flexible for the wide variety of hospitals to which they would apply and do not inadvertently exacerbate maternal care access challenges.”

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