The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) recently filed comments on the “Hospital Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals,” proposed rule for Fiscal Year 2022. SCAI comments specifically focused on the proposed changes to MS-DRG 215 and the continued bundling of concomitant procedures along with surgical ablation.

The SCAI comments stated, “We believe CMS’s proposal (p. 25106) would reduce the annual variation that could affect physicians’ ability to offer important life-saving treatments. SCAI wrote on this topic in their last two comment letters on the IPPS rule, seeking stability, which would be a consistent position from those in the prior year letters that sought predictability. CMS is now proposing to make such changes for 2022. SCAI also stated that “there should be a mechanism for differentiated payment when procedures are performed concomitantly when it is best for the patient.”

The SCAI Government Relations Committee will continue to monitor these issues and plans to make additional comments as needed. In the meantime, SCAI expects the proposed rules for physicians, outpatient hospital procedures and ASCs to be published before July 15th and will prepare comments accordingly.