decisionhealth Newsletters, Part B News - 2007 Issue 8 (August)
ASC billing: The skinny on new payment system; Coding ASC procedures to grow more complicated in 2008
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article explains major CMS updates affecting ambulatory surgery center billing and coding under the new payment system beginning in 2008. It covers the shift to APC-based payment concepts, broader procedure coverage, office-based procedure designations, transition timing, ancillary payment categories, exclusions, and related policy changes. The piece is aimed at ASC billers, coders, physicians who own or use ASCs, and others who need to understand how the rule changes may affect facility reimbursement and coding workflows.
Why This Topic Matters
The changes described affect how ASC services are billed, what procedures are payable, and how payment levels are determined. Understanding the scope of the new rules helps facilities and clinicians anticipate coding workload changes and reimbursement impacts.
Article Sections
-
Coding ASC procedures to grow more complicated in 2008
Introduces the 2008 ASC payment changes and explains why facility-side coding will become more detailed under CMS policy. It sets the stage for the reimbursement and operational impacts discussed later in the article.
-
Key changes from the ASC final rule
Summarizes the major provisions in the final rule affecting ASC payment structure, coverage, and billing. The section highlights broad categories of change such as payment methods, service coverage, transition timing, and supplemental payment areas.
-
Specialties affected by new ASC payment system
Presents a summary table showing estimated financial effects across surgical specialty groups under the new payment system. It compares projected changes during the transition period and without the transition blend.
What You Will Learn
- How CMS is changing ASC payment methodology for 2008
- What broad categories of services are affected by the new ASC rule
- Why office-based procedures and excluded services matter to ASC billing
- How the transition period and conversion factor fit into the new payment structure
- Which specialty groups may be affected differently under the revised payment system
Who Should Read This
- ASC facility coders
- Medical billing staff
- ASC administrators
- Physicians with ASC ownership interests
- Healthcare reimbursement professionals
Codes Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com