CMS Proposal on Hospital Outpatient Payment Panel Open for Comment

These services were denied because they either involve assessment by a physician or include a significant potential for patient complications or reactions that would require the supervising physician or appropriate non-physician practitioner to be immediately available, explains Mackaman. These services are:

• IV infusions and injections that are currently designated as non-surgical extended duration services
• H1N1 vaccine administration with family counseling
• Bladder irrigation
• Two casting/strapping procedures
• Direct admission for observation and observation per hour

"CMS announced in the 2013 OPPS proposed rule that they are considering giving critical access hospitals and small rural hospitals one more year of non-enforcement for meeting supervision rules and also stated that it would most likely be the last year for that waiver," Mackaman said.