CMS has released its Calendar Year (CY) 2013 Proposed Rule for outpatient services furnished in hospitals and ASCs. CMS anticipates that total payments under the OPPS for CY 2013 will be $48.1 billion, and that payments to ASCs will be $4.1 billion.

The proposed rule may be viewed here [PDF] and will be published in the July 30, 2012 Federal Register. Comments are due no later than September 4, 2012.

Major highlights of the proposed rule are discussed below. Future issues of Payment Matters will discuss specific issues in the proposed rule in greater detail.