FORT MYERS, Fla., Aug. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its proposed CY 2023 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), which has sparked concern for the community-oncology advocate American Oncology Network (AON).
Despite the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of increasing health equity across all geographies, promoting healthy competition throughout the healthcare industry and driving toward value-based and patient-centered care, CMS’ proposal for 2023 will undoubtedly cripple community healthcare practices.
Most concerning for community-based practices are the increase in the 340B drug pricing to the average sale price plus 6% and the rise in Medicare reimbursement rates of 2.7%. While practices affiliated with healthcare systems and hospitals reap the benefits of the OPPS proposals, independent community practices will have to reduce their payment rates to maintain neutrality and receive a decrease in Medicare payments — limiting their ability to continue providing quality care, services and medications to their patients.
“For more rural practices, like many of the community oncology practices we support, these are alarming recommendations,” said AON Chief Executive Offer Todd Schonherz. “If these actions come to fruition in 2023, they have the potential to threaten the success and growth of small-town clinics, which will then suffer financially and struggle to effectively…
