URGENT: CALL TO ACTION!

Comments to CMS must be submitted before December 10th

On November 2, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized Medicare payment rates for Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) services for calendar year (CY) 2024.

In the final rule, the facility fee (APC rate) for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (G0277) was reduced to $73.64 per 30-minute segment from the current rate of $125.07 per 30-minute segment.

This is an unsustainable 41.5% decrease. CMS provided no warning or rationale regarding this unexpected change from the proposed rate of $134.51 (initially published in July 2023). Had this been published in the proposed rule, stakeholders would have had the opportunity to comment.

This reduced rate will go into effect on January 1, 2024, unless successfully challenged. 

APWCA is urging all members to submit comments directly to CMS before December 10th.

New APWCA President, William H. Tettelbach, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FUHM, MAPWCA, CWSP, has provided a sample letter for reference and welcomes everyone to draw from his message if they like.

In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-1786-FC and submit in one of these ways: 

• Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on this regulation to https://www.regulations.gov. Once there enter CMS-1786-FC in the search box then follow the "Submit a comment" instructions.

• By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; Attention: CMS-1786-FC, P.O. Box 8010, Baltimore, MD 21244-8010.

Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period.

• By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1786-FC, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.