Reimbursement In Brief

CMS is proposing cutting reimbursements for CT and MRI scans by about 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively, in the agency’s 2014 hospital outpatient prospective payment proposed rule, issued July 8. CMS has been collecting data on distinct cost centers for cardiac catheterizations, CT scans and MRI scans since FY 2011, but is deciding for the first time to apply these cost centers in FY 2014 to calculate reimbursement payments. Imaging groups have opposed the CMS’ plans to apply the new cost centers’ data to the 2014 inpatient hospital proposed rule. (See Also see "Device Firms Oppose New Imaging Cost Centers For 2014 Medicare Payments" - Medtech Insight, 5 July, 2013..)

CMS is proposing increasing reimbursement for radiation therapy in the 2014 outpatient payment proposed rule. In particular, reimbursement for certain intensity modulated radiation therapy services would increase by 130 percent....