CMS Releases Draft Rules on Hospital, Physician Payments
Last week, CMS issued draft rules for Medicare hospital and physician payments in fiscal year 2012, proposing a 29.5% cut in physician reimbursement and further tying hospital payments to clinical outcomes. CMS said the physician payment rule must reflect current law, which calls for a nearly 30% cut in physician payments beginning in 2012 under the sustainable growth rate formula. The rules are open to public comment until Aug. 30. The final rules are expected to be released on Nov. 1.
- "Medicare Proposal Links Surgical Center Payments to Quality" (Pecquet/Baker, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 7/1).
- "Proposed Rules Would Raise Rates, Cut Doc Reimbursement" (Daly, Modern Healthcare, 7/1).