CMS POSTS PAYMENT INFORMATION FOR SERVICES PERFORMED IN AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Aug. 21 posted charge and payment information for 61 common procedures performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).

The CMS will post payment information for common hospital outpatient and physician services in the fall, the agency said.

The information on ASCs is contained in three separate files: "Commonly Performed Procedures in ASCs," with charge and Medicare payment data for ASC facility costs for a limited set of services rendered in U.S. states and counties; "Other Commonly Performed Procedures in ASCs," with similar charge and payment data for facility costs related to services of high use; and a one-page example of the comprehensive data.

The CMS notice and related documents can be accessed at www.cms.hhs.gov/HealthCareConInit/03_ASC.asp#TopOfPage (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HealthCareConInit/03_ASC.asp#TopOfPage).