CMS adds 35 codes to the Stark list of designated health services

Why This Topic Matters

Practices that refer or receive referrals for designated health services need to monitor CMS’s annual list updates to support Stark compliance planning and internal policy review. The article helps readers understand where the 2023 update was issued, how CMS is handling future updates, and what kinds of coding-related issues drew public comment.

Article Sections

1. Compliance

   Overview of the annual DHS update and its relevance to Stark compliance planning. It also covers the timing of the 2023 update and the change in how CMS publishes these updates.

2. Comment period and CMS response timing

   Discussion of the separate public comment process CMS created for Stark-related changes and the agency’s expected timing for responses. The section describes the general process and possible delays for more complex comments.

3. Public comment on remote therapeutic monitoring codes

   Summary of the single comment CMS received on the 2023 list and the subject matter it raised. The section notes that the codes remained unchanged and references the possibility of an advisory opinion request.

4. Resources

   Links and reference materials related to the annual code list, the regulatory docket, and Stark advisory opinions.