On July 6, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2017 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System policy changes, quality provisions, and payment rates proposed rule. CMS is accepting comments on the proposed rule through September 6, 2016. The final rule is expected to be released in early November 2016.

(Please note that physician payment is made under the Physician Fee Schedule; hospitals are paid for outpatient services under the OPPS and ASCs are paid under the ASC payment system, both detailed in this rulemaking.)

A full summary of the rule is available here, including a list of spine codes CMS proposes to remove from the inpatient-only list and those spine codes CMS proposes to add to the ASC list of covered surgical procedures. Click here for a list of spine codes and their corresponding payment rates in the hospital outpatient and ASC settings (Note: there are three sheets in this workbook.)