CMS did not propose to add new measures to the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Quality Reporting Program for 2018 or 2019 payment determinations, the ASC Association said. However, the agency proposed that seven measures be added for 2020 payment determinations for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments.
Two proposed measures that require ASC data to be submitted directly to CMS are:
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ASC-13: Normothermia Outcome, percentage of patients having surgical procedures under general or neuraxial anesthesia of 60 minutes or more in duration who are normothermic within 15 minutes of arrival in the post-anesthesia care unit;
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ASC-14: Unplanned Anterior Vitrectomy, a procedure performed when vitreous inadvertently prolapses into the anterior segment of the eye during cataract surgery.
There are also five proposed measures for ASCs and hospital outpatient (OP) departments based on the use of the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (OAS CAHPS). The OAS CAHPS is a 37-item survey to assess the experience of care for patients who have received surgeries and other procedures in hospital OP departments and ASCs. “CMS would require OAS CAHPS data to be collected and submitted quarterly starting with visits on Jan. 1, 2018,” the American Hospital Association said.
The five proposed measures are:
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ASC-15a (OP-37a:) OAS CAHPS – About Facilities and Staff;
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ASC- 15b (OP-37b): OAS CAHPS – Communication About Procedure;
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ASC-15c (OP-37c): OAS CAHPS – Preparation for Discharge and Recovery;
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ASC-15d (OP-37d): OAS CAHPS – Overall Rating of Facility;
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ASC-15e (OP-37e): OAS CAHPS – Recommendation of Facility.
For the CY 2020 outpatient quality reporting program, CMS proposes two more measures for hospitals:
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OP-36: Hospital Visits after Hospital Outpatient Surgery (NQF #2687);
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OP-35: Admissions and CMS-1656-P ED Visits for Patients Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy.
The proposed rule can be accessed at http://bit.ly/29NT4Em.
