HCFA considers gradual approach to outpatient payment reform

Government officials may advocate incremental reform of Medicare's outpatient payment system over more drastic measures, sources say. The Health Care Financing Administration has not yet made a decision on its recommendations for reform, which are due to Congress in September. Sources at HCFA say a full-scale reform plan may not be feasible now. Meanwhile, the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission, the congressional advisory panel responsible for reviewing HCFA's recommendation, has until March 1992 to turn in its report. Thus, October 1992 would be the earliest date for implementation. But some experts say even that's optimistic.