All information in this report is taken from the Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System Limited Data Set (OPPS LDS) which is updated annually by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal organization that oversees the programs. The file includes billing data for 100% of all Medicare fee-for-service claims for hospital outpatient services during the twelve months ending December 31. The report is based on the most recent period available and is consistent with CMS Data Release policies.
The Medicare program groups many hospital outpatient services into Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs) for payment. Our report is based on APCs, but uses modified descriptions to make them easier to read and understand. APCs with the highest total charges (as ranked for Louisiana hospitals) are reported. (APCs for common laboratory tests, injections, emergency department, and generalized categories are excluded because they do not lend themselves to comparative reporting among hospitals.):
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT ACTUAL PAYMENTS TO THE HOSPITAL MAY DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM CHARGES. THE MEDICARE PROGRAM MAKES FIXED PAYMENTS FOR APC'S REGARDLESS OF A HOSPITAL'S CHARGES AND INSURANCE COMPANIES MAY NEGOTIATE DISCOUNTED PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS.