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 association urged CMS to increase the proposed annual hospital payment update and adopt a safety net hospital definition and related payment policies.

CMS says the withdrawal of the mandate, effective immediately, aligns with the agency's approach to other infectious diseases.

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 House Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee will hear testimony on legislation to address the nation's health care workforce shortage. Meanwhile, two House lawmakers circulate a sign-on letter to build support for a bill to bolster physician training.

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.

The rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services includes numerous policy and payment changes important to essential hospitals, including a 4.3 percent increase in inpatient payment rates for fiscal year 2023.

The regulation contains payment and quality reporting provisions, a new designation to identify “birthing-friendly” hospitals, and a 4.3 percent increase in operating payment rates for general acute-care hospitals, compared with a proposed 3.2 percent update.

America's Essential Hospitals commented on several policy proposals of interest to essential hospitals and responded to requests for information on maternal health, equity, and climate change.

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 proposed fiscal year 2023 Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule would increase operating payment rates by 3.2 percent and make other changes to Medicare payment and quality reporting policies. CMS is accepting comments on the proposed rule until June 17.

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 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. 

America's Essential Hospitals commented on several policy proposals of interest to essential hospitals in the Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule and responded to a request for information on closing the health equity gap in hospital quality programs.

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.

The document outlines acceptable approaches to calculate and report median payer-specific negotiated charges by Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group for reporting periods ending on or after Jan. 1, 2021.

The interim final rule targets future vaccine costs, price transparency for COVID-19 tests, and enhanced Medicare payments for new COVID-19 treatments.

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 finalized fiscal year 2021 Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule includes payment and quality reporting provisions. The rule goes into effect Oct. 1; CMS has waived the 60-day delay in effective date due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Positive tests must be demonstrated using only the results of viral testing (i.e., molecular or antigen), consistent with CDC guidelines. The test may be performed either during or prior to the hospital admission.

The proposed rule would increase inpatient payment rates by 3.1 percent, reduce Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments by about $0.9 billion compared with fiscal year 2020, and collect median third-party charge data on Medicare cost reports.

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

New requirements call for hospitals to post charges and information based on rates negotiated with third-party payers, as well as standard charge data for a limited set of “shoppable” services, in a consumer-friendly manner.

The final rules for Medicare’s Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2020 also expand access to opioid use disorder treatment and establish a prior authorization process for certain services.

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.

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.

America’s Essential Hospitals encouraged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to consider the disproportionately negative financial effect on essential hospitals of certain quality reporting requirements and administrative burden in the Promoting Interoperability Programs.

An America's Essential Hospitals analysis identified more than 300 hospitals with mismatching fiscal year 2015 uncompensated care values compared with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' provided Factor 3 values.

A new proposed rule for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2020 would increase net inpatient payment rates by 3.2 percent in addition to numerous other policy and payment changes.

A new proposed rule would increase inpatient operating payment rates by 3.2 percent and make other changes to Medicare payment and quality reporting policies. CMS is accepting comments on the proposed rule until June 24.

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.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated the Promoting Interoperability Programs website with new resources for the 2019 program year. The agency also announced two calls on the recently released interoperability and patient access proposed rule.

The frequently asked questions are about a new requirement, under the fiscal year 2019 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule, that hospitals make public a list of their standard charges via the internet.

A new notice makes technical and typographical corrections to the fiscal year 2019 Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule.

The frequently asked questions clarify the type and format of information that hospitals must post under new requirements finalized in the fiscal year 2019 Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services final rule for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for FY 2019 increases inpatient operating payment rates and Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments.

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.

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.

The new proposed IPPS rule for FY 2019 contains numerous policy and payment changes, including increasing net inpatient payment rates by 1.75 percent.

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.

The reports provide estimated hospital-level proportions of dual-eligible patients, peer group assignments, and payment adjustment information using the program's new stratified methodology.

The guidance defines courtesy discounts, defines when a bad debt is "written off," provides clarity about unpaid coinsurance and deductibles, and more.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services previously had extended the revision deadline to Oct. 31, following numerous changes to the worksheet S-10.

The document explains hospital payment adjustments under the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program; adjustments are applied as a reduction to the hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System percentage increase for FY 2018.

The new rule would affect inpatient operating payments, Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments, and the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.

The final rule updates Medicare inpatient rates to acute care hospitals by 1.21 percent, provides flexibility in reporting of electronic clinical quality measures, and changes the payment adjustment methodology for the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will allow hospitals to submit revisions to Worksheet S-10 of their Medicare cost report for fiscal year 2015 by Sept. 30.

America’s Essential Hospitals encourages CMS to improve transparency, risk adjust, and reduce regulatory burden for essential hospitals.

The rule would raise inpatient operating payment rates, revise Medicare DSH payment methodology, and apply a transitional methodology for HRRP penalties.

The rule contains provisions on the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, Medicare DSH, the Inpatient Quality Reporting program, and more.

Hospitals have until May 5 to review overall Hospital Compare star rating and until May 10 to review value-based purchasing hospital-specific reports.

The delay is in accordance with a “regulatory freeze” set forth in a recent White House memorandum.

CMS also expanded the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model to include surgical hip/femur fracture treatment.

All hospitals and critical access hospitals will be required to provide the MOON to applicable patients beginning March 8, 2017.

CMS says it miscalculated some hospitals' uncompensated care share and provided the incorrect wage index reclassification status of four hospitals.

In May, CMS paused initial patient status reviews to ensure reviews are performed consistently and the two-midnight policy is properly applied.

The deadline for hospitals to amend their Medicare cost report Worksheet S-10 for fiscal year 2014 is Sept. 30.

The rule addresses the controversial two-midnight policy, Medicare DSH, the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program, Value-Based Purchasing, and more.

The rule includes the annual payment update to inpatient payment rates and changes to the Medicare disproportionate share hospital payment methodology.

America's Essential Hospitals gave feedback on Medicare DSH payments, payments associated with the two-midnight policy, and quality reporting programs.

Delay of patient status reviews will continue until further notice. The agency will work with Quality Improvement Organizations to ensure the two-midnight policy is enforced consistently for all hospitals.

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.

The proposal would reverse the cut starting in FY 2017, in addition to a temporary adjustment to retroactively pay for reduced payments from fiscal years 2014 to 2016.

Court-ordered justification provides additional insight for 0.2 percent inpatient payment rates cut agency linked to policy

Hospitals paid under IPPS in 67 metropolitan statistical areas will be required to participate in new payment model starting in April 2016

In a legal victory for hospitals, a district court said CMS did not meet legal requirements for rulemaking when it cut hospital inpatient payments by 0.2 percent in FY 2014. The court ordered CMS to reissue the FY 2014 IPPS rule.

This conference call will cover major policies included in the IPPS and LTCH PPS final rule, including quality initiatives. Question and answer period to follow presentation.

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.

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.

May 29 webinar will focus on quality reporting program proposals, impact of changes to HAC Reduction Program and Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.

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.

Due to Senate consideration of a bill that would extend the delay until October, CMS extends its delay through April 30.

Hospitals that did not meet reporting requirements in 2014 and do not receive exception could face smaller IPPS payment increases in 2016

In a new policy brief, America's Essential Hospitals describes how billions of dollars in reductions to Medicaid and Medicare funding threaten care at essential hospitals.

The national provider call will be held Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1:30 – 3 pm ET.

During its September public meeting, MedPAC discussed alternatives to the two-midnight policy, the need for audit reform, and the 3-day SNF rule. The commission will continue to focus on these issues.

Ratings will start with the April 2015 release of Hospital Compare data. Dry run will occur between Sept. 15 and Oct. 14.

Hospitals willing to resolve pending appeals will receive a timely, partial payment equal to 68 percent of the net payable amount. Provider call scheduled for Sept. 9.

Data collection for a chart-abstracted sepsis measure is delayed until further notice based on an NQF recommendation.

The final rule updates Medicare payment policies, rates for inpatient stays at general acute care hospitals, and provisions related to quality improvement programs.

Comments cover topics such as Medicare disproportionate share hospital payment cuts and risk adjustment for socioeconomic status.

Acute care facilities that participate in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program must enter Medicare beneficiary numbers on event records for all Medicare patients into the National Healthcare Safety Network, beginning July 1.

MedPAC announced that it will look into alternatives for the two-midnight rule. The potential alternative policy will clarify the inpatient payment system to clarify when a patient is considered an inpatient and alter payment mechanisms to require less observation care.

The subcommittee focused on three issues pertaining to hospital inpatient reimbursement: 1) the two-midnight rule that redefined which hospital stays qualify for inpatient reimbursement; 2) RAC reviews of hospital payment determinations; and 3) provider appeals of Medicare payment determinations.

For inpatient admissions with dates of admission between Oct. 1, 2013, and March 31, 2015, MACs and recovery audit contractors will not conduct postpayment patient status reviews. MACs will continue to conduct prepayment probe reviews of short stays with dates of admission between Oct. 1, 2013, and March 31, 2015.

On April 30, CMS issued the IPPS proposed rule for fiscal year 2015. The rule updates Medicare payment policies, rates for inpatient stays at general acute care hospitals, and provisions related to quality improvement programs. CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule through June 30.

CMS released the FY 2015 proposed IPPS rule April 30. The proposed rule updates Medicare payment policies and rates for inpatient stays at general acute care hospitals, as well as provisions regarding quality improvement programs.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted today a follow-up Special Open Door Forum on the two-midnight policy. The call discussed physician order and physician certification, inpatient hospital admission, and medical review criteria.

Letter underscores necessity for more time for CMS to assess policy's impact on patients, hospitals

Revised policy presumes inpatient admissions fewer than two midnights are inappropriate for inpatient reimbursement

Hospitals that treat a large share of low-income patients receive add-on payments to the amount designated by IPPS

Guidance extends the existing enforcement delay by three months

CMS updates earlier guidance, CCIIO addresses third-party payments of premiums for individuals covered by QHPs

Offered direction on how to select hospital claims during inpatient probe and educate program

Nearly three-quarters of the hospitals awarded a payment were new to the program

Hospitals were urged to attest that they have meaningfully used certified EHR technology by Nov. 30

Inpatient stays of two midnights or more are presumed reasonable and necessary, agency says

Rule establishes presumption of medical need for Medicare hospital inpatient admissions that span two midnights

Cited concerns that hospitals may be undercompensated for providing necessary services that do not meet new criteria

Will take comment on physician order and certification, medical review criteria, and other issues

Rule finalizes several inpatient prospective payment system provisions

Rule also finalizes use of Medicaid and low-income Medicare inpatient days as uncompensated care proxy

Association urges CMS to accurately capture uncompensated care data to implement Medicare DSH cuts

Rule includes proposed formula to make Medicare DSH reductions under ACA

Rule proposes several inpatient prospective payment system provisions

Commissioners vote unanimously to recommend 1 percent increases for fiscal year 2014