Douglas O’Brien, Rush system vice president, corporate and public affairs, has been appointed by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, to the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment. The panel helps inform CMS on reimbursement, quality and safety metrics for hospitals.
“The work of this panel is key to ensuring hospitals across the country are fairly reimbursed, while ensuring accountability for patient safety and quality measures” O’Brien said. “These are core issues for the future of healthcare industry, particularly when it comes to advancing equitable access to care. It is an honor to be asked to serve on this panel representing Rush.”
The 15-member panel provides guidance regarding clinical integrity of the Ambulatory Payment Classification groups—the payment categories Medicare uses to reimburse hospitals for outpatient services, such as emergency room visits, minor procedures, tests and relative payment weights. These categories inform the payment methodology Medicare uses to reimburse hospitals as updates are made to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System.
The panel also makes recommendations around the appropriate supervision level for hospital outpatient services to ensure quality and safety.
O’Brien’s first meeting of his four-year term will be in August.
