Medicare Hospital Pharmaceuticals : Survey Shows Price Variation and Highlights Data Collection Lessons and Outpatient Rate-Setting Challenges for CMS

In 2003, the Medicare Modernization Act required the CMS to establish payment rates for a set of new pharmaceutical products -- drugs & radio-pharmaceuticals -- provided to beneficiaries in a hospital outpatient setting. These products were classified as specified covered outpatient drugs (SCOD). The legislation directed CMS to set 2006 Medicare payment rates for SCODs equal to hospitals' average acquisition costs. This report surveyed hospitals & issued 2 reports, providing info. to use in setting 2006 SCOD rates. This report also analyzes SCOD price variation across hospitals, advises CMS on future surveys it might undertake, & examines both lessons from the survey & future challenges facing CMS. Charts & tables.Steinwald, A. Bruce is the author of 'Medicare Hospital Pharmaceuticals : Survey Shows Price Variation and Highlights Data Collection Lessons and Outpatient Rate-Setting Challenges for CMS', published 2006 under ISBN 9781422307007 and ISBN 142230700X.