Vizient Offers Comments to CMS on Key Medicare Policies

IRVING, Texas, Sep. 11, 2023 – Today, Vizient, Inc. submitted comments on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) CY 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rules.

In our OPPS comments, Vizient applauded CMS' efforts to support a more resilient pharmaceutical supply chain by requesting feedback on a policy to provide additional payments to providers who maintain a buffer inventory of essential medicines. Vizient offered considerations for the agency related to provider flexibility, clarification needs, and potential enhancements, along with other recommendations, to improve the potential policy.

“For years, Vizient has been at the forefront of improving drug supply chain resiliency through various efforts, including our own well-established strategies to ensure additional inventory of essential products is held for providers,” said Shoshana Krilow, senior vice president of public policy and government relations for Vizient. “We welcome the opportunity to further discuss Vizient’s mitigation efforts and encourage CMS to work alongside industry stakeholders to enhance and finalize this policy.”

Separately, Vizient raised concerns about CMS’ proposed payment update of 2.8% as hospitals continue to struggle with increased costs and urged the agency to increase the market basket to the extent possible.

Concurrent with OPPS, Vizient also offered comments to CMS in response to the CY 2024 PFS proposed rule. Vizient expressed disappointment with the declining conversion factor proposed by CMS, which would place additional strain on healthcare providers. Additionally, among other topics, Vizient appreciated the agency’s proposed policies to increase access to services addressing health-related social needs. Vizient reiterated ongoing concerns regarding the agency’s use of the Area Deprivation Index in its health equity efforts and suggested it instead utilize the more comprehensive Vizient Vulnerability Index™. Consistent with previous comments and advocacy efforts, Vizient also urged CMS to make permanent several of the telehealth policies that are slated to expire at the end of 2024.

As the agency works to update these key Medicare policies, Vizient remains committed to serving as a resource to CMS and providers.

About Vizient, Inc.
Vizient, Inc., the nation’s largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company, serves more than 60% of the nation’s acute care providers, which includes 97% of the nation’s academic medical centers, and more than 25% of the non-acute care market. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $130 billion in annual purchasing volume. Vizient’s solutions and services improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.