CMS releases 2020 final payment rule for ASCs, HOPDs

Editor's Note

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on November 1 released its final payment rule for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs).

CMS added eight codes to the ASC-payable list, including total knee arthroplasty. CMS also removed total hip arthroplasty and seven spine codes from the inpatient only list.

CMS will continue to use the hospital market basket used to update HOPD payments to update ASC payments for CY 2020 through CY 2023.

ASCs receive an effective update of 2.6%, which is a combination of a 3% inflation update based on the hospital market basket and a productivity reduction mandated by the Affordable Care Act of 0.4%.

The rule takes effect January 1, 2020.