CMS Issues Medicare Hospital Outpatient PPS Proposed Rule for FY2010 - July 7,2009

On July 1, CMS issued its Medicare Hospital Outpatient PPS proposed rule for FY2010.  NAPH is currently reviewing the proposals, which include a projected 1.9 percent increase in payment to hospitals, implementation and changes to the quality reporting program, and a decision to continue paying 340B and non-340B providers the same rate for separately-payable outpatient drugs (despite discussion of changing payment rates to 340B providers in the FY2009 Final Rule). Comments on the rule are due August 31. The text of the rule will be published in the Federal Register on July 20, and is available until then by clicking here.