MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a bid to help control health care costs, on October 1, 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will stop paying hospitals for treating potentially avoidable surgical site infections following Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device (CIED) procedures including pacemaker and defibrillator implants. CMS just released its Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Final Rule for Fiscal Year 2013 which adds Surgical Site Infection following CIED implantation as a condition subject to the Hospital Acquired Condition payment provision. CMS considers these infections to be reasonably preventable and has classified them as complicating conditions that would otherwise result in higher payment to the hospital. Under the new policy, CMS will pay for the original surgery, but will not reimburse hospitals at a higher rate for treating the infection.
