CMS Furthers Efforts to Improve Health Inequities in Its Proposed 2025 Hospital Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Reimbursement Rates

CMS’s proposed annual hospital outpatient and ASC reimbursement rate schedule was published in July. This year’s proposed rule includes initiatives to address disparities in care. Among the proposals are requiring 12 months of continuous eligibility for children enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP; expanding the hospital outpatient, rural emergency hospital, and ASC quality program measure sets to incorporate equity measures consistent with other provider types; and providing an add-on payment to the All-Inclusive Rate for certain Indian Health Service (IHS)/tribal facilities that will increase access to certain high-cost drugs; and supporting individuals returning to the community from incarceration through the elimination of Medicare enrollment barriers.