AHA comments on OPPS proposed rule for CY 2025

The AHA Sept. 9 commented on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid's outpatient prospective payment system proposed rule for calendar year 2025, expressing concerns about shortcomings in the market basket forecast and update for hospital outpatient departments. Medicare hospital OPPS rates would increase by a net 2.6% in CY 2025 compared to 2024. This includes a proposed 3.0% market basket update, offset by a 0.4 percentage point cut for productivity. AHA urged CMS to consider whether adjustments are necessary to the agency's approach to annual market basket updates and to eliminate the productivity cut for CY 2025. AHA also shared concerns about CMS' proposed conditions of participation for obstetrical services.