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.
view more »An Aug. 2 final rule for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2020 will increase inpatient operating payments and Medicare disproportionate share hospital funding and make changes to electronic health records use and quality reporting programs.
view more »CMS Publishes Final Rule for FY 2020 Medicare IPPS
Aug. 4, 2019 ||The rule increases inpatient operating payment rates by 3.1 percent, makes other payment and quality reporting policy changes, and estimates a $140 million increase in Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments.
view more »Hear how Navicent Health reduced hospital-acquired infections through a quality management system and other systemwide interventions.
view more »MedPAC Releases March Report to Congress
March 20, 2019 ||The report includes recommendations on several issues of importance to essential hospitals, including hospital inpatient and outpatient services, hospital quality incentive programs, and alternatives to opioids.
view more »AHRQ Scorecard Shows Decrease in Hospital-Acquired Conditions
Feb. 5, 2019 ||The hospital-acquired condition rate, which captures 28 patient safety event measures, decreased 13 percent from 2014 to 2017.
view more »CMS Issues FY 2019 IPPS Final Rule
Aug. 6, 2018 ||The final rule increases Medicare inpatient payment rates to acute care hospitals by 1.85 percent, revises electronic health record requirements, and changes the payment adjustment methodology for the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.
view more »Association Comments on Annual Medicare Inpatient Payment Rule
June 29, 2018 ||America's Essential Hospitals urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to implement its Medicare disproportionate share hospital payment methodology and quality measurement programs in a way that accounts for the unique needs and patient populations served by essential hospitals.
view more »CMS Issues FY 2019 IPPS Proposed Rule
April 25, 2018 ||A new proposed rule for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2019 would increase inpatient operating payment rates by 1.75 percent.
view more »CMS Issues FY 2018 IPPS Proposed Rule
April 17, 2017 ||The rule contains provisions on the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, Medicare DSH, the Inpatient Quality Reporting program, and more.
view more »Wexner Transforms Patient Safety with Crew Resource Management
Jan. 6, 2017 ||Crew resource management, which focuses on situations prone to negative outcomes by human error, helped the Columbus, Ohio, essential hospital improve performance and generate savings.
view more »New Report Shows Drop in Hospital-Acquired Conditions Since 2010
Dec. 20, 2016 ||The data show about 125,000 fewer patients died because of hospital-acquired conditions from 2010 to 2015, resulting in a savings of $28 billion.
view more »CMS Updates Hospital Compare Data
Dec. 20, 2016 ||CMS on Dec. 19 refreshed its Hospital Compare site, including data on the Ambulatory Surgical Center Program, Hospital Readmission Reduction Program & more.
view more »The rule addresses the controversial two-midnight policy, Medicare DSH, the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program, Value-Based Purchasing, and more.
view more »Gain an in-depth understanding on how to use the AHRQ Quality Indicators to improve quality and safety of care at your hospital.
view more »Association Gives Feedback on IPPS Proposed Rule
June 22, 2016 ||America's Essential Hospitals gave feedback on Medicare DSH payments, payments associated with the two-midnight policy, and quality reporting programs.
view more »Hospital-Specific HAC Reports Might Contain Error
June 14, 2016 ||The HAC reports might have contained the incorrect hospital name in one table. CMS will distribute new reports to affected hospitals.
view more »A new proposed rule for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System would reverse the controversial two-midnight policy payment cut and make numerous other policy and payment changes, including to quality reporting programs.
view more »AHRQ Chartbook Shows Some Progress on Disparities
March 22, 2016 ||Latest Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) patient safety data show gaps in care for racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups have become less pronounced over time.
view more »CMS Publishes HAC Reduction Program Data
Dec. 14, 2015 ||Hospital performance data for FY 2016 available on Hospital Compare; hospitals in bottom quartile face 1 percent Medicare payment cut.
view more »HAC Reductions Continue to Save Lives, Dollars in 2014
Dec. 8, 2015 ||Like earlier report, new AHRQ data show that hospitals continued to reduce HAC rates by 17 percent in 2014.
view more »HHS Evaluates Progress Toward Triple Aim
Nov. 9, 2015 ||Report on National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care details progress made toward better care, lower costs, and improved health.
view more »Reductions in HACs Save Lives, $12 Billion
Nov. 9, 2015 ||New AHRQ report finds patients experienced 1.3 million fewer hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) from 2010 through 2013, saving a projected 50,000 lives.
view more »Essential Hospitals Named New CDC Prevention Epicenters
Oct. 7, 2015 ||The prevention epicenters will identify innovative ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in health care facilities. University of Utah and the University of Illinois - Chicago join Cook County Health & Hospital System as essential hospital participants.
view more »Hospitals: New HAC Reports Correct Error
Sept. 23, 2015 ||Reports previously excluded the first six months of 2014 data on SSIs, which may have impacted payment adjustment and quality measure results. CMS has opened a second review and correction period.
view more »Rule includes a net increase in IPPS payment rates of 0.9 percent, Medicare DSH cuts of $1.2 billion in FY 2016, and updates to the HAC Reduction, Hospital VBP, IQR, and EHR Incentive programs.
view more »Association Comments on FY 2016 IPPS Proposed Rule
June 16, 2015 ||Comments caution CMS about Medicare DSH payment cuts and urge CMS to ensure measures and methodologies used in quality reporting programs are adjusted for sociodemographic factors.
view more »CMS to Host FY 2016 IPPS Proposed Rule Webinar
May 19, 2015 ||May 29 webinar will focus on quality reporting program proposals, impact of changes to HAC Reduction Program and Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.
view more »CMS to Discuss Pay for Performance Programs May 12
May 5, 2015 ||The national provider call will cover alignment and goals for a number of Medicare pay-for-performance programs, including the Inpatient Quality Reporting Program and the Value-Based Purchasing Program.
view more »The rule includes provisions on several topics, including a payment update, Medicare disproportionate share hospital cuts, Medicare payment for short inpatient hospital stays, and the Readmissions Reduction Program.
view more »Brief finds that hospitals with more than 400 beds, teaching hospitals, those treating complex patients, and essential hospitals more likely to receive penalties; no evidence that penalties align with outcomes
view more »HHS Announces Continued Reductions in HACs
Dec. 2, 2014 ||Preliminary estimates show that hospital patients experienced 1.3 million fewer hospital-acquired conditions from 2010 to 2013.
view more »CMS Seeks Nominees for Technical Expert Panels
Aug. 26, 2014 ||CMS is compiling three TEPs to provide technical input to CMS contractors on the development, selection, and maintenance of quality measures. Nominations are due Sept. 12 and Sept. 19.
view more »Association Comments on FY 2015 IPPS Proposed Rule
July 1, 2014 ||Comments cover topics such as Medicare disproportionate share hospital payment cuts and risk adjustment for socioeconomic status.
view more »OIG and HHS Release FY 2014 Work Plan
Feb. 25, 2014 ||The OIG and HHS FY 2014 work plan includes several Medicare and Medicaid projects. These projects cover the following topics including inpatient admission criteria, E&M payments, IME, and provider taxes.
view more »CMS Awards America’s Essential Hospitals Third Year for Initiative to Reduce Harm, Readmissions
Jan. 30, 2014 ||The federal Partnership for Patients initiative will support for a third year the association's Essential Hospitals Engagement Network (EHEN), one of 26 such networks nationally working to reduce nine hospital-acquired conditions by 40 percent and 30-day readmissions by 20 percent by the end of 2014.
view more »Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HACs) Rules and Comments
Nov. 25, 2013 ||Rule implements proposed provisions in the Affordable Care Act
view more »CMS Releases FY 2014 IPPS Proposed Rule
May 2, 2013 ||Rule includes proposed formula to make Medicare DSH reductions under ACA
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