Philips Comments on 2010 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System
September 1, 2009
In comments submitted to CMS, Philips Healthcare has recommended a number of policy changes in the proposed Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System Rules and Rates for 2010. They include the following:
- Do not implement the proposed imaging efficiency measures for 2012, and retire in 2011 the four imaging efficiency measures that were adopted for use beginning in 2010.
- Apply the multiple imaging composite APC payment rule only to those procedures performed on the same patient on the same day of service during the same session.
- Continue to evaluate whether the methodology used to establish existing composite APCs has resulted in payments that accurately reflect the resources needed to provide these services.
- Delay implementation of a new and untested prospective payment methodology for these services in hospital settings.
- Further evaluate the impact of packaging on payment for radiation therapy services.
- Pay separately for radiation guidance services.
CMS will issue its final rules on or about November 1, 2009. New policies and payment rates go into effect on January 1, 2010
To read the comments, please 
click here.
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