Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy and the Medicare Prospective Payment System

摘要

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a major new technology to treat kidney and other upper urinary stones. Its experiences under the current Medicare hospital payment system exemplify several aspects of the system that can affect the development and diffusion of medical technologies, including the effects of using the ICD-9-CM codes as a basis for payment groupings and the effects of exempting capital expenses and outpatient services from the payment rates. However, regardless of these influences, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is an attractive technology to patients, physicians, hospitals, and payers, and it will be quickly established in the American health care system.