CMS this morning released its final regulations for payments to hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). CMS is adopting several key measures to curb surging HOPD spending amid modest rate updates for HOPDs and ASCs. Overall, HOPD rates will increase by 1.35% in 2019 while ASC services will rise by 2.1%, owing to a new rate update methodology. These updates will take effect on January 1, 2019.