CMS RELEASES FINAL ESRD BUNDLE RULE
26 July 2010
Editor Keith Chartier of Renal Business Today summarized the final ESRD Bundle Rule on his blog just moments after the announcement came out. You can read the summary below, and link to the full report by visiting: http://www.renalbusiness.com/blogs/keith/2010/07/cms-releases-final-esrd-bundle-rule.aspx
After a long wait, the final rule for the end-stage renal disease prospective payment system, better known as the bundle, has been released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Just a few quick highlights: CMS has finalized the composite rate payment for renal dialysis services and ESAs and their oral forms as renal dialysis services are included in the bundle.
In addition, oral drugs will be included in the bundle. However, the implementation date for oral-only ESRD drugs will be Jan. 1, 2014. CMS said it is pushing back the implementation date in order to address data/pricing issues, and to “evaluate and correct any potential concerns that may emerge as a result of the inclusion of the oral drugs and biologicals with other forms of administration in the payment bundle effective January 1, 2011.”
Obviously this is just a minute snippet of a very large rule that the renal community will be digesting in the months ahead to meet the 2011 implementation date. Check back with RBT in the coming days, weeks and months for updates on the bundle rule and what it will mean for your dialysis clinic. Happy reading.
