Who Had the October OPPS Update on August 12?
Transmittal 13978 posted Tuesday afternoon, two days before the quarter it governs. Its own first paragraph says the instruction was finished on August 12 and held back as sensitive. The same thing happened in January, April and July, and the October rate book still isn't up.
Transmittal 13978 went up on the CMS site Tuesday afternoon. It sets how every hospital outpatient department in the country gets paid starting Thursday morning.
Its first paragraph says nothing about payment.
"This Transmittal is no longer sensitive and is being re-communicated. This instruction may now be posted to the Internet."
The second paragraph is the one that matters. Transmittal 13913, issued August 12, 2026, is being rescinded and replaced by 13978.
Same change request, CR 14589. Same October 1 effective date, same October 5 implementation date.
The October OPPS update was finished forty-eight days before you could read it.
Its companion did the same thing. R13979CP, the I/OCE version 27.3 specifications, replaces Transmittal 13931, issued August 20 (chart below).
Two instructions, both written in August, both released September 29, both governing a quarter that opens Thursday.
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