2008 OPPS Proposed Rule (Audio Conference)

AUDIOCONFERENCE ON TAPE, CD AND AUDIO ARCHIVE

Sponsored by Briefings on APCs
presented on August 29, 2007

Your success under OPPS in 2008 depends on getting ready now.

YOU HEAR IT FIRST

HCPro’s 5th Annual OPPS Program will help you understand:

• what proposed changes will affect providers the most if finalized for 2008
• which areas are most likely to change from a coding, billing, operational, and financial perspective and what providers can do now to prepare
• how to provide comments to CMS on the proposed rule and impact the final rule that will be published later this year
• And much more!

The outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) has seen its fair share of changes every year. But for 2008, CMS is proposing perhaps its most drastic change yet: Wholesale packaging. This means that many services for which hospitals currently receive separate payment—e.g., observation, many imaging supervision and interpretation services, and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, among others—will no longer receive separate payment in 2008.

This year more than ever before, finance and revenue cycle managers, in addition to HIM and coding professionals, need to be aware of the proposed changes as they could significantly impact future revenue, cost reporting and billing practices.  Your staff can rely on HCPro to tackle all of the nuances described in the OPPS proposed rule. Expert speakers, Jugna Shah, MPH and Valerie A. Rinkle, MPA, join together for our 5th annual program to help you navigate the issues raised in the proposed rule and help you understand the key changes proposed by CMS for 2008 OPPS.

CMS published the proposed rule on July 16. Our speakers have reviewed it, analyzed it, and are ready with a comprehensive program to get you ready to manage the expected changes for 2008 OPPS.
 
NOTE: To read a copy of the 2008 OPPS proposed rule, go to the CMS Web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HospitalOutpatientPPS/downloads/cms1392p.pdf.

PROGRAM AGENDA

This will be an aggressive program with a full—and continuously evolving—agenda:

• The expected financial implications  based on CMS’ widespread packaging proposal
• Proposed changes to pharmacy handling/overhead data collection, and reporting requirements
• Proposed changes to APCs (new APCs, deleted APCs, and changes to existing APCs)
• The key HCPCS/CPT code changes (additions, deletions, replacements)
• Proposed changes to the inpatient only and the pass-through device and drug list
• CMS’ update on national E/M facility coding guidelines
• Proposed elimination of the separately payable observation APC
• Changes in the outlier payment formula
• Outpatient quality measures
• Other significant changes proposed by CMS for 2008
• Key areas on which to comment to CMS to best effect positive change for providers

A question and answer session follows the presentation.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Jugna Shah, MPH, is the president of Nimitt Consulting Inc. in Washington, DC. She has extensive experience helping providers understand and address the clinical and financial implications of APCs, facilitating APC task force meetings, strategic planning sessions, financial impact analyses discussions, and managing APC implementation and assessment projects. She is a contributing editor of HCPro's Briefings on APCs.

Valerie A. Rinkle, MPA, is revenue cycle director for Asante Health System in Medford, OR. She has over 20 years of healthcare reimbursement experience including 11 years in nationwide consulting to hospitals and physicians regarding Medicare and Medicaid payment systems and compliance. She is the author of numerous articles on OPPS and hospital-based clinics, and serves on the editorial board of HCPro's APC Weekly Monitor.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

This program has prior approval of the American Academy of Professional Coders for 1.5 Continuing Education Units. Granting of this approval in no way constitutes endorsement by the Academy of the program, content or the program sponsor.

NEW PURCHASE OPTION

In addition to the regular participation options for HCPro audioconferences, audio tape or audio CD, we are pleased to offer a new option, an audio archive. Audio archive allows you to download the program and play it back at your convenience through your computer or MP3 player.

BONUS MATERIAL INCLUDED IN YOUR MATERIALS PACKET!

In addition to the expertise and advice presented during this audioconference, you'll also receive a slide presentation of the program materials and tools. These materials are provided with PDF links.

WHO SHOULD LISTEN?

• HIM managers
• Coding supervisors
• Outpatient coders
• APC coordinators
• Chargemaster coordinators
• Revenue cycle coordinators
• Finance
• Compliance officers

Purchase a tape, CD, or audio archive of the program and listen when you can. It's also a perfect training tool for new staff or as a refresher for veteran staff.

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