Aug 22, 2018 | Medicare, Physician Fee Schedule
CMS is proposing to significantly limit the time an ACO can be upside only and to streamline the risk-bearing ACO tracks from 4 Track options to a 2 Track Option (renamed Basic and Enhanced) to simplify the ACO program. Click to read more.
Aug 13, 2018 | Hospitals, Inpatient, LTCHs, Medicare
CMS finalized a 1.85% rate update to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) for fiscal year 2019. This and other changes will affect the approximate 3,300 acute care hospitals that Medicare pays for inpatient stays under the IPPS. This brief summarizes key provisions included in the final rule. Click to read more.
Aug 9, 2018 | Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)
CMS finalized the FY 2019 Medicare payment updates and quality program changes for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), which will increase payments by an estimated 2.4%, or $820 million. CMS also finalized its proposal for FY 2020, shifting from RUG-IV to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) system. The final rule closely mirrors the proposal. The SNF industry, and particularly contract therapy providers, had expected that CMS would soften some parts of the proposal, such as the limits on combined concurrent and group therapy. We expect that the SNF industry will continue to lobby for...
Aug 8, 2018 | Inpatient Psych, Inpatient Rehab (IRF), Post-Acute Care
CMS recently finalized a +1.1% update to the Inpatient Psychiatric Facility (IPF) Prospective Payment System (PPS). This brief summarizes updates that will be effective for discharges occurring during fiscal year 2019 and the IPF Quality Reporting Program (QRP). Click to read more. Likewise, CMS finalized a +1.3% update to the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) PPS, which will be effective for discharges occurring during fiscal year 2019 and the IRF QRP. This brief summarizes key provisions included in the final rule. Click to read more.
