The report is based on feedback gathered during a September listening session, in which more than 300 stakeholders shared recommendations for improving predictability, stability, and relevance of star ratings.

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.

Hospitals with the greatest proportion of Medicare patients dually eligible for Medicaid had decreased readmissions penalties, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Adjusting for social risk factors in Medicare's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program results in decreased penalties for hospitals serving a safety-net role.

The association strongly encourages essential hospitals to submit individual comments with specific examples of how your institution addresses social risk factors among Medicare beneficiaries; comments are due Nov. 16.

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.

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 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.

Of the 303 performance measures submitted during the trial period, 65 were determined to have a conceptual basis for adjustment for social risk factors.

The proposed rule would increase outpatient payment rates by 1.75 percent and drastically reduce Medicare Part B reimbursement for drugs purchased through the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

The National Quality Forum draft report evaluates the effectiveness of the two-year trial that risk-adjusted performance measures for socioeconomic status.

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

The study found that the penalty burden was greater in hospitals treating a high share of patients with socioeconomic disadvantages.

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

Essential hospitals can expect the new Congress' Republican leaders to follow through quickly with their pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Lawmakers approve funding for the federal government through April 28, 2017, and pass legislation that includes two key advocacy wins for essential hospitals: socioeconomic risk adjustment and partial relief from outpatient department payment cuts.

The legislation, expected to quickly receive the president's signature, includes two key advocacy goals for the association: risk adjustment of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program and partial relief from hospital outpatient department payment cuts.

Congress plans to vote on a continuing resolution to keep the government running past Dec. 9. The Senate is expected to pass 21st Century Cures legislation.

Congress is poised to pass legislation that would include socioeconomic risk adjustment for the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program and some relief from payment cuts for new hospital outpatient departments.

Lawmakers are closing in on negotiations for 21st Century Cures legislation and also working to complete a short-term continuing resolution to fund the federal government through March 2017.

The campaign of online and print advertisements and media outreach calls on Congress to pass legislation to risk adjust the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.

Association president and CEO argues that hospitals serving disadvantaged communities are penalized by federal quality initiatives that do not account for socioeconomic obstacles.

The legislation would incorporate risk adjustment for socioeconomic status into Medicare's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.

Panel approves bill that would add socioeconomic risk adjustment to Medicare's readmissions reduction program and avert some cuts to hospital outpatient departments.

Changes will more accurately reflect cost of care for dual eligibles and adjust Medicare Advantage star ratings for enrollees' socioeconomic and disability statuses.

Material note association concerns about, and help members prepare for, April 21 public release of Hospital Compare star ratings.

Budget plan would improve Medicaid access and coverage and tackle drug pricing, but make damaging Medicare cuts; lawmakers examine Medicaid housing coverage, FMAP, 21st Century Cures, mental health.

State hospital association says risk adjusting CMS readmissions methodology results in significantly less variation in measured quality differences among hospitals.

First of five consensus reports from National Academy of Medicine (NAM) ad hoc committee identifies social risk factors for Medicare payment and quality programs, and the measures they can impact.

Member leaders attend more than 100 meetings with lawmakers and congressional staff as part of fall Policy Assembly. Event also included insights from policymakers and a Capitol Hill reception honoring 2015 Gage Award recipients.

Letter to congressional leaders, signed by more than 100 hospital executives, calls for passage of bills to adjust Medicare readmissions program for socioeconomic status

The final policy takes into account changes to Medicare DSH payments, improving the accuracy of payments to hospitals.

America's Essential Hospitals supports legislation, which seeks to ensure hospitals are not unfairly penalized for patients' sociodemographic challenges

Document, developed by association's policy advisory committee, demonstrates essential hospitals' commitment to and promotion of care equity, and supports risk adjustment for sociodemographic status in certain quality improvement measures