On July 29, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that proposes to update payment policies and rates under the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for renal dialysis services furnished to beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2020. This rule also proposes updates to the acute kidney injury (AKI) dialysis payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by ESRD facilities to individuals with AKI and proposes changes to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP).
The
CMS press release stated that the rule would strengthen Medicare by improving kidney care and promoting competition in DME by modernizing the way CMS pays for care, reducing regulatory barriers for new treatments and streamlining processes. In addition, this rule proposes a methodology for calculating fee schedule payment amounts for new Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) items and services and making adjustments to the fee schedule amounts established using supplier or commercial prices if such prices decrease within five years of establishing the initial fee schedule amounts. This rule would also make amendments to revise existing policies related to the competitive bidding program for DMEPOS. This proposed rule would also streamline the requirements for ordering DMEPOS items, and create one Master List of DMEPOS items that could potentially be subject to face-to-face encounter and written order prior to delivery and/or prior authorization requirements. Finally, it would also include requests for information on data collection resulting from the ESRD PPS technical expert panel, on possible updates and improvements to the ESRD PPS wage index, and on new rules for the competitive bidding of diabetic testing strips. To view the complete Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, please click
HERE.
The FACT Sheet issued by CMS summarizes the Proposed Rule (CMS-1713-P) and it is a good snapshot. Look for the NRAA to host a Members Only webinar in the near future to discuss the CMS ESRD PPS Proposed Rule.