The Aug. 1 final rule includes numerous policy and payment changes, including a 3.1 percent increase to inpatient payment rates, changes to the Medicare disproportionate share hospital payment calculation, and revised graduate medical education policies.

The rule includes changes to the calculation of Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments and payment and quality reporting provisions.

The proposal includes numerous policy and payment changes to Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2024, including a 2.8 percent increase in inpatient payment rates.

The proposed fiscal year 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule includes a request for feedback on defining safety net hospitals; CMS will accept comments until June 9.

Prioritizing hospitals in health professional shortage areas, CMS awarded residency slots to 100 hospitals, including 27 essential hospitals.

The proposed rule includes numerous policy and payment changes for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2023, including a 3.2 percent increase in inpatient payment rates.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education introduced two rural track program designations to accredited residency programs and seeks members for an advisory group on health care access for medically underserved areas and populations.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services outlines the application process for 1,000 new graduate medical education slots created by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Applications for the first round of slots are due March 31, 2022, and CMS intends to award slots July 1, 2023.

The Department of Health and Human Services will distribute $19.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to help train primary care residents to provide quality care to diverse populations and communities, particularly in underserved and rural areas.

A final rule with comment period from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addresses the distribution of 1,000 new graduate medical education slots and other policies.

In the new rule, the agency finalizes proposals on direct and indirect graduate medical education (GME) policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and solicits comments on other GME issues to inform future policymaking.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced a $1.5 billion investment to help grow and diversify the nation's health care workforce through loan repayment and scholarship programs.

The rule includes numerous policy and payment changes for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2022, including a 2.5 percent increase in inpatient payment rates.

CMS on Aug. 2 released its fiscal year 2022 Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule, which includes payment and quality reporting provisions. The rule does not finalize provisions related to new residency slots, organ acquisition costs, or Section 1115 waiver days. 

In its June report to Congress, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission issues recommendations on issues of importance to essential hospitals, including payment for Part B drugs, alternative payment models, indirect medical education payments, and Medicare coverage of vaccines, among other topics.

A proposed rule from CMS includes numerous changes for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2022, including a 2.8 percent increase in inpatient payment rates and updates to quality reporting programs and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed fiscal year 2022 Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule would increase operating payment rates by 2.8 percent, repeal market-based data collection, and add 1,000 new graduate medical education teaching slots, among other provisions.

In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, America’s Essential Hospitals called on the department to withdraw a proposal that could affect the ability of essential hospitals to hire and retain international medical graduates in residency programs.

The change would require certain visa holders completing medical education or training to proactively apply for an extension of status toward the end of their authorized period of stay.

Policies finalized for the 2021 Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System call for increasing inpatient payment rates by 2.9 percent, reducing Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments, and collecting median Medicare Advantage charge data.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its proposed fiscal year 2021 Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule, which includes payment and quality reporting provisions.

The package, expected to become law, would delay a $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments through May 22, 2020. It does not include proposals to reduce surprise medical bills or prescription drug prices.

A new bill by Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) would impose a user fee for hospitals participating in the 340B Drug Pricing Program; a House subcommittee marked up hospital preparedness and graduate medical education bills.

Senate Democrats sharply questioned the repeated delays of a final rule on drug ceiling prices and manufacturer civil monetary penalties; The House continues to focus on passing an opioid package.

The proposed revisions would update requirements on patient safety and quality improvement, physician well-being, team-based care & resident work hours.

The rule maintains a prohibition against direct payments by states to providers for services delivered under managed care contracts and explicitly prohibits states from directing plan expenditures.

The database could help determine a rural hospital's classification as a teaching hospital and, in turn, its eligibility for Medicare funding of a new residency program.

Budget deal includes a $3 billion funding increase for the NIH and $300 million for the CDC.

The Senate takes up the House-passed budget resolution. Both the House and Senate are focused on medical innovation as the next major health push.

The meeting is open to the public and will cover GME structure, reform, and financing.

The budget would extend Medicaid DSH cuts another year and reduce Medicare payments for outpatient services, medical education, and bad debt, among other threats to essential hospitals.

Legislation includes provisions on Ebola response funding, 340B Drug Pricing Program, children's hospital GME, and Health Centers Program

Institute recommends abolishing current Medicare graduate medical education, indirect medical education funding streams in favor of new system

Association members explained what makes an essential hospital and the key issues facing essential hospitals to their policymakers on the Hill. The event also included reflections from senior Capitol Hill and administration staff and two award ceremonies that recognized members of Congress and congressional staff for their commitment to essential hospitals.

Medicare GME and IME cuts, bad debt cuts, and Medicaid DSH rebasing are included in the proposal. The association will continue to follow these concerning issues closely.

Proposed rule clarifies costs, payments associated with programs are not federally reimbursable under Medicaid

Report identifies health care postsecondary training and education programs that received federal support