09/11/2023

COA Submits Comments to CMS on Proposed 2024 Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient Payment Rules

COA Warns That Proposed Rules Continue Decline in Community Oncology Payment While Enriching Hospitals and Fueling Provider Consolidation

Despite promising provisions in both rules, the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) rules for 2024 will continue the destructive trend of devaluing independent, community-based cancer care by paying them less than inflation and fueling the consolidation of independent providers into the more expensive hospital setting.

In formal comments submitted this week, the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) urges the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider another cut to reimbursement for community oncology that continues to keep payment for key practice services to below the cost of inflation, while at the same time increasing payments for hospitals and large health systems and feeding the out-of-control 340B Drug Pricing Program.

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