The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed rule that would 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, 2015.
“This proposal would introduce new quality and performance measures to improve the quality of care by outpatient dialysis facilities treating patients with end-stage renal disease and proposes to implement the Affordable Care Act mandate to bring more competitive bidding for durable medical equipment,” said CMS in a release.
The rule also proposes changes to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP), including for payment year (PY) 2017 and PY 2018, under which payment incentives are applied to dialysis facilities to improve the quality of dialysis care.
Under the ESRD QIP, facilities that do not achieve a minimum total performance score with respect to quality measures established in regulation receive a reduction in their payment rates under the ESRD PPS.
This rule also addresses issues related to the coverage and payment of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).
A separate fact sheet addressing the quality provisions of the ESRD PPS for CY 2015 can be found here: http://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/Newsroom-Center.html
CMS, US, Affordable Care Act
