This week's note from the instructor takes a first look at the 2021 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rule and the possibility of sunsetting the inpatient-only list.
This week’s Medicare updates include the release of the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System final rule, new ICD-10-PCS codes for therapeutic COVID-19 treatments, the Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Prospective Payment System final rule, and more!
Q: Beginning in July, prior authorization is needed for certain hospital outpatient services such as blepharoplasty, botulinum toxin injections, panniculectomy, rhinoplasty, and vein ablation. Going forward, how should hospitals approach this change?
Facing the unprecedented COVID-19 public health emergency, CMS released the 2021 OPPS proposed rule later than ever before, with the agency generally reinforcing its recent focus on site-neutral payment policies, lowering reimbursement for drugs purchased under the 340B program, and adding more services to the list of prior authorization.
