Medicare program; update of ambulatory surgical center payment rates--HCFA. Notice of proposed rates.

This proposed notice sets forth the updated payment rates for ambulatory surgical center services. As required by section 1833(i)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act, these revised rates would be effective July 1, 1988. We are proposing to refine the methodology used to determine the payment rates and base the rates on the most recent survey data collected from ambulatory surgical centers. In addition, we would compute the payment rates using the HCFA hospital wage index. We are also proposing to incorporate the payment for intraocular lens implanted during cataract surgery into the facility rate as required by section 4063(b) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, which was enacted on December 22, 1987. Finally, we are proposing changes regarding the payment policy for surgical procedures that are terminated due to medical complications that increase the surgical risk to the patient.