Special Bulletin: CMS Issues Hospital Outpatient/ASC Proposed Rule, Including Additional 340B Cuts

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released the calendar year (CY) 2021 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS)/ambulatory surgical center (ASC) proposed rule.

In addition to standard updates, the rule would further reduce the payment rate for certain drugs purchased under the 340B drug savings program, expand the list of outpatient services subject to prior authorization, eliminate the inpatient-only list over three years, make significant changes to the hospital star ratings methodology, and change the physician-owned hospital policy.

Comments on the proposed rule are due by Oct. 5.

View AHA’s complete statement for specific comments related to proposals on 340B, physician-owned hospitals, the inpatient-only list, star ratings and more.

Highlights of proposals important to hospitals and health systems are in the PDF below. You must be logged in as an AHA member to view the PDF.