CMS published its final rule to update the Medicare end-stage renal disease (ESRD) PPS for CY 2015 on November 6, 2014. For CY 2015, the final ESRD PPS base rate is $239.43, which reflects a 0.0 percent update mandated by section 217(b)(2) of PAMA, and the application of a wage index budget-neutrality adjustment factor to the CY 2014 ESRD PPS base rate of $239.02. Nevertheless, CMS estimates that the rule will increase payments to ESRD facilities by approximately $30 million in 2015 due to updates to the outlier threshold amounts. The final rule also, among other things: rebases the ESRD bundled market basket using 2012 data; revises the market basket measures; updates the labor-related share value with a two-year transition; clarifies the eligibility criteria for the low volume payment adjustment; and implements a PAMA provision providing that payment for ESRD-related oral-only drugs will not be made under the ESRD PPS prior to January 1, 2024. CMS also adopted updates to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) for payment years 2017 and 2018, including changes to the measure sets and establishment of a new scoring methodology beginning in 2018. Finally, the rule makes significant changes to Medicare reimbursement policy for DME, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS), as discussed in a separate post.