CMS announces changes to Radiation Oncology Model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday released the calendar year 2021 outpatient prospective payment system/ambulatory surgical center final rule. In addition to standard updates, the rule maintains previous payment cuts for certain drugs purchased under the 340B drug savings program, expands the list of outpatient services subject to prior authorization, eliminates the inpatient-only list over three years, makes significant changes to the hospital star ratings methodology, changes the physician-owned hospital policy and requires new hospital COVID-19 data reporting.