The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its final 2015 ambulatory surgery center (ASC) payment rule (pdf), according to an ASC Association report.
In the final rule, CMS finalized the addition of the following 11 spine codes to the ASC-payable list:
- 22551 — Neck spine fuse&remov bel c2
- 22554 — Neck spine fusion
- 22612 — Lumbar spine fusion
- 22614 — Spine fusion extra segment
- 63020 — Neck spine disk surgery
- 63030 — Low back disk surgery
- 63042 — Laminotomy single lumbar
- 63044 — Laminotomy, additional lumbar
- 63045 — Removal of spinal lamina
- 63047 — Removal of spinal lamina
- 63056 — Decompress spinal cord
Other highlights of the rule include what ASCA deemed a “significant change” to Medicare’s device-intensive policy; finalizing the reporting deadline for process of care measure ASC-8: Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel; and the addition of a measure to the ASC Quality Reporting Program.