NAEC has prepared a brief summary of the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) proposed rule for 2019.  In general, the rule provides for a 1.25% update in hospital outpatient payment rates in 2019. Hospitals that fail to meet the hospital outpatient quality reporting requirements will receive a 2% reduction in payments. NAEC has also prepared charts that show the APC payment rates for epilepsy outpatient procedural and surgical services, to which CMS is proposing to make minimal changes in 2019.

In addition, NAEC has updated its chart for the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2019.  The new codes for the programming of brain stimulators (RNS and DBS) are now included in the charts.