CMS gives ASCs option to suppress certain data from Hospital Compare

Ambulatory surgical centers may choose through Nov. 16 to have 2013 and 2014 data for five claims-based measures suppressed from the Hospital Compare website, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced this week, citing ASC concerns with implementing associated billing process changes. “Recognizing concerns from the ASC community that some facilities encountered difficulties in expediting these changes for the initial implementation years resulting in reporting issues, CMS has determined that ASCs may choose to suppress data for CY 2013, CY 2014, or both years from being displayed on the Hospital Compare website,” the agency said. “Thus, only ASC-6 and 7 data submitted for CY 2012 via the QualityNet Secure Portal will be publicly reported in October 2015.” ASCs should email requests to suppress the data to ASCPublicReporting@hsag.com, noting the facility name, CMS Certification Number, National Provider Identifier and whether to suppress the data for calendar year 2013, 2014 or both years. For more information, contact the program’s support contractor at 866-800-8756 or at https://cms-ocsq.custhelp.com.