The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today released its July 2008 update for the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS). The update addresses portable monitoring and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) through three newly-created G-codes. Under OPPS, the G-codes have been assigned to APC 0213 (Level I Extended EEG and Sleep Studies). Payment rates for these services can be found in Addendum B of the July 2008 OPPS Update that is posted on the CMS Web site. The Addendum B states the following:

HCPCS Code

Short Descriptor

SI

APC

Relative Weight

Payment Rate

National Unadjusted Copayment

Minimum Unadjusted Copayment

G0398

Home sleep test/Type 2 Portable Monitor

S

0213

2.2980

$146.37

53.58

29.27

G0399

Home sleep test/Type 3 Portable Monitor

S

0213

2.2980

$146.37

53.58

29.27

G0400

Home sleep test/Type 4 Portable Monitor

S

0213

2.2980

$146.37

53.58

29.27

Click on the following link to review Addendum B in its entirety: www.cms.hhs.gov/HospitalOutpatientPPS/AU/itemdetail.asp?filterType=none&filterByDID=-99&sortByDID=1&sortOrder=descending&itemID=CMS1213269&intNumPerPage=2000

Members are encouraged to submit comments about the G codes to CMS:

1.  Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on this regulation to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for "Comment or Submission" and enter the filecode to find the document accepting comments.

2.  By regular mail. You may mail written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address ONLY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
Department of Health and Human Services,
Attention: CMS-1404-P,
P.O. Box 8013,
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period.

3.  By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address ONLY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
Department of Health and Human Services,
Attention: CMS-1404-P,
Mail Stop C4-26-05,
7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.