IPPS rule poses minor changes for ’09
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Overall, payments for device-dependent hospital procedures will remain relatively stable in fiscal year 2009, according to CMS' final inpatient payment system 1rule released July 31. Only one company, SynCardia Systems, won a new technology add-on payment, a $53,000 bonus per procedure for its CardioWest temporary artificial heart. Overall, CMS says average hospital payments will increase an estimated 4.7% in 2009. To receive full payment in 2009, hospitals must report 13 new quality measures on their claims in addition to the 30 existing measures. Also in the rule, the agency adds to its policy three new preventable hospital-acquired conditions for which Medicare will no longer pay. The conditions include surgical site infections following certain orthopedic procedures and bariatric surgery; disorders brought on by poor glycemic control; and deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism following total knee or hip replacements. The changes take effect Oct. 1 (2"The Gray Sheet" April 21, 2008, p. 3)