MedPAC urges payment updates for ASCs, HOPDs

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its March report and recommended a 0% update for Medicare payments to ambulatory surgery centers and, as dictated by law, a 1.75% increase for hospital outpatient departments.

MedPAC also called for ambulatory surgery centers to release cost data.

MedPAC also recommended a 0.5% payment rate increase for physician and other health professional services. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 provides for a 0.5% increase in Medicare physician fee schedule rates through 2019. (The entire report is available online at 1.usa.gov/1VET2hg.)