Items of interest for outpatient departments in the 2018 IPPS proposed rule

Why This Topic Matters

CMS policy changes discussed in the IPPS proposed rule can influence outpatient reimbursement, reporting burdens, and future rulemaking. Understanding these topics helps hospital teams prepare for potential cross-setting payment changes and identify areas where data and comments may be useful.

Article Sections

1. Site-neutral payment discussions return

   Explores CMS and related policy discussions about aligning payment across care settings and why hospitals should monitor future proposals. The section also discusses broad considerations providers may want to review in advance of later rulemaking.

2. Looking beyond site-neutral payments

   Covers CMS’s request for broader policy ideas and its interest in operational flexibility, reporting simplification, and related process changes. It also notes additional outpatient-focused areas that may see continued scrutiny or future proposals.

3. ICD-10-CM’s impact on DRGs

   Discusses how MS-DRG rate setting and related inpatient payment changes are affected by ICD-10-coded data. The section connects these changes to potential implications for hospitals that manage both inpatient and outpatient billing.