America’s Essential Hospitals said the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and Physician Self-Referral Law should be modified to remove barriers to coordinating care for the complex patients essential hospitals serve.

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.

Louisiana is the fifth state cleared to pursue value-based purchasing agreements for supplemental rebates with manufacturers through a state plan amendment.

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.

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.

An agency bulletin instructs states on how to seek approval for state-directed payment arrangements and distinguishes directed payments from other payment models.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is granting exceptions under certain Medicare quality reporting and value-based purchasing programs to hospitals and health care facilities in Federal Emergency Management Agency–designated major disaster counties.

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

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.

President Obama signs the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes the historic risk adjustment provision and also provides partial relief to hospitals from cuts to off-campus outpatient department payments.

The actions build on the National Pain Strategy, a federally coordinated plan for reducing and better treating chronic pain.

The proposed rule updates the payment rate for services provided in hospital outpatient departments and provisions relating to quality reporting.

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.

Nominations are due June 19. The work group will define terms related to alternative payment models and a strategy to track progress of APM implementation.

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.

The Network will support the transition toward alternative payment models, using efforts in the Medicare Program as a guide.

There is particular interest in mechanisms for greater comprehensiveness in care delivery, care for complex patients, care coordination, and value-driven reimbursement.

A recent study published in Health Affairs found that California essential hospitals were more likely to be penalized than other California hospitals under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, despite lower 30-day risk-adjusted mortality rates.

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

Data has been released for the reporting period of April 2012 through March 2013

Rule finalizes several Outpatient Prospective Payment System provisions

The VBP program links Medicare inpatient payments to quality measure performance

Extension applies to data submitted to Medicare inpatient quality reporting program

Rule finalizes several inpatient prospective payment system provisions

Hospitals may review and request correction of performance scores

Rule proposes several outpatient prospective payment system provisions

Agency seeks to understand type and frequency of, and payment for, services furnished in off-campus outpatient departments

Plan outlines options for states to adopt delivery system reforms

Rule includes proposed formula to make Medicare DSH reductions under ACA

Rule proposes several inpatient prospective payment system provisions