Hospitals enjoy 4.6% bump in CF for APCs in 2004

Why This Topic Matters

The rule affects how hospitals are paid for outpatient Medicare services and signals several policy changes that can influence facility billing, payment classification, and coding operations in the coming year.

Article Sections

1. Final 2004 APC rule and payment update

   Introduces the final CMS outpatient APC rule for 2004 and summarizes the overall payment context for hospital facility services.

2. Key APC policy highlights

   Covers major changes discussed in the rule, including APC count changes, facility E/M guidance direction, drug packaging thresholds, pass-through payment considerations, and other outpatient payment adjustments.

3. Infusions, drug administration, and blood payment updates

   Summarizes CMS positions on infusion billing approaches, drug administration payment timing, and payment treatment for blood and blood products.

4. Professional services and additional APC changes

   Notes CMS reminders about professional payment for physicians and certain non-physician practitioners, along with other APC changes and status indicator updates.