High participation in ASCQR program continues, March deadline for reconsideration requests

Editor's Note

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2025 Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program data, showing strong participation among Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs), ASC Focus December 20 reports. Of the 6,012 facilities included in the list, 5,714 will receive the full Annual Payment Update (APU), with only 298 failing to meet requirements—a decrease from 341 in 2024. ASCs that did not report data in 2024 face a 2% APU penalty for 2025.

The ASCQR Program is a "pay-for-participation" initiative, meaning facilities are penalized for not reporting but not for the data submitted. Facilities exempt from participation include those with fewer than 240 Medicare claims or newly opened centers. Interestingly, 319 exempt facilities voluntarily participated, the article noted.

Data show robust compliance in certain states, with all required ASCs in eight states and the District of Columbia meeting reporting requirements. Massachusetts followed closely, with 98% participation. The growing number of exempt facilities, now at 1,741, may reflect a shift toward Medicare Advantage plans over fee-for-service Medicare.

Facilities can appeal adverse APU decisions through reconsideration requests, which are due by March 17. Last year, 20 facilities successfully overturned penalties via reconsideration.

CMS continues to expand reporting measures, including the ASC-15 OAS CAHPS Survey, which may influence participation trends. The full dataset and reconsideration details are available on the QualityNet website and the ASCQR Program page.