Quality reporting program pared. Two of the 8 measures CMS
proposed to remove from the quality reporting program were
approved. Beginning in 2020, CMS will remove "ASC-8: Influenza
Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel," and in 2021
remove, "ASC-10: Endoscopy/Polyp Surveillance: Colonoscopy
Interval for Patients with a History of Adenomatous Polyps -
Avoidance of Inappropriate Use."
What about total joints?
As you might recall, last year CMS let HOPDs perform total joint
replacement procedures. No, this year's payment rule didn't add any
total joint replacement codes — even though many ASCs around the
country are performing arthroplasties on non-Medicare patients. But if
this exclusion is the only thing ASCs have to complain about, then the
2019 payment rule was a huge win.
OSM
Mr. Eck (weck@seyfarth.com) is a partner at Seyfarth Shaw's Washington,
D.C. office, where he chairs the healthcare mergers and acquisitions practice.
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