CMS to Phase in Controversial Payment Cut to Dialysis Providers

In what is likely to be a relief to dialysis providers, the CMS decided to phase in the controversial payment cut to dialysis providers over a three- to four-year period.

Moreover, overall payments for 2014 will remain the same, according to the final rule issued Friday (PDF).

A tax bill passed in January calls for the rebasing of dialysis rates to better reflect decreased utilization of expensive anemia drugs that have been linked to safety concerns. But the industry has lobbied heavily against the cut, arguing that the drugs themselves have become more expensive and more drugs are being added to the bundled payment.

The final rule also authorized a 50% increase to the home dialysis training add-on payment and strengthened the Quality Incentive Program, which penalizes providers who don't meet certain performance standards.

Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/19W8WIi

Source: Modern Healthcare