CY 2016 outpatient quality reporting program appeals period underway

Hospitals subject to a reduction in Medicare outpatient payments in 2016 due to non-compliance with the outpatient quality reporting program may appeal the determination by submitting a reconsideration request by Feb. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Friday. Eligible hospitals that do not meet all OQR program requirements or participate in the program will receive a 2 percentage point reduction of the annual payment update. About 96.5% of hospitals eligible to participate in the program met the criteria to receive a full payment update of negative 0.3% for calendar year 2016, CMS said. The annual payment update status for each hospital eligible for the program can be found at www.qualitynet.org.