On Nov. 1, CMS issued a final rule for the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System. In accordance with Medicare law, CMS is updating OPPS rates for hospitals that meet applicable quality reporting requirements by 2.6 percent. This update is based on the projected hospital market basket...

ISASS was a signatory to a letter to the White House in response to the White House Executive Order issued on Oct. 3. President Trump issued an Executive Order on “Protecting and Improving Medicare for our Nation’s Seniors.”  Although the Executive Order does not provide legislative or regulatory specifications, it raises policy areas that the President believes...

In addition to the proposed RVU changes for CPT 27279, the 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Rule updated several policies of relevance to ISASS members. Payment is made under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for services furnished by physicians and other practitioners in all sites of service. These services include, but are not limited to, office...

In the 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, released on Nov. 1, CMS finalized a work RVU of 12.13 for CPT code 27279, Arthrodesis, sacroiliac joint, percutaneous or minimally invasive (indirect visualization), with image guidance, includes obtaining bone graft when performed, and placement of transfixing device. The current (2019) work RVU for 27279 is...