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CMS issues final specialty hospital report required by DRA

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, August 15, 2006

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final report to Congress that provides a "strategic and implementing plan" addressing key topics pertaining to physician investment in specialty hospitals, according to a press release from CMS. The report was a requirement of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA).

The elements of the plan as described in the press release are:

• Major hospital and ambulatory surgery payment reforms to better align Medicare payments with costs of care
• New opportunities to support hospitals and physicians working together to improve care
• Required emergency service for patients when appropriate, regardless of ability to pay
• Transparency in hospital investment
• Enforcement of Stark and antikickback rules for improper investment
• Continued enforcement of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 moratorium

To view a copy of the press release, click here.

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