Proposed Cuts To New Off-Campus Departments 'Shocked' Hospitals

Hospitals were unpleasantly surprised Thursday (July 13) by proposed pay cuts for off-campus departments in the Physician Fee Schedule annual rule. The proposed cuts are the latest to anger hospitals in a long-running dispute with Congress and CMS over whether physician practices that hospitals buy should be paid hospital rates. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 directs CMS to pay lower doctor-office rates to physician practices that hospitals buy and turn into outpatient departments. The policy applies to off-campus outpatient...