MedPAC Recommends 2010 ASC Payment Increase

In its March report to Congress, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has recommended that ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) receive a 0.6 percent increase in payments for 2010.

In the report, MedPAC states that “under the revised payment system, 86 percent of all procedures have a higher payment rate than under the old system. However, the highest volume procedures have lower payment rates.” Also among their findings was from 2002-2007:

• Medicare revenue for ASCs increased from $1.9 billion to $2.9 billion
• The number of ASCs grew by an average of 6.7 percent per year
• Volume per beneficiary grew by 9.8 percent per year
• The number of Medicare beneficiaries served in ASCs increased by 7.5 percent per year.

The commission also recommended that ASCs be required to submit cost and quality data to the incoming secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

For a copy of the full report, click HERE.

Source: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission