CMS announced that acute care hospitals will see a 2.1 percent payment rate increase as part of an inflation update.
Skilled nursing facilities face a Medicare payment reduction of $360 million as part of a $1.050-billion case-mix adjustment decrease and a $690 million market-basket increase.
Alan Rosenbloom of the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care said, “The nursing home community rightly fears the $12-$16 billion in cuts are just the tip of the iceberg. As Congress continues to debate health care reform and searches for ways to fund it, many expect and assume that nursing home care will be targeted again for much deeper cuts.” (Source)
Additionally, nursing homes will see a 3.3 percent cut. Read the CMS press release here.
CMS announced a new rule that updates payment rates and new regulatory framework for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities. Jonathan Blum, director of the CMS Center for Medicare Management, said, “The final rule we are issuing today incorporates industry best practices into CMS coverage requirements, while promoting more consistent review of the medical necessity of IRF stays for individual patients in light of their clinical needs. The policies were developed by CMS working closely with medical directors from several fiscal intermediaries, and have been refined in the final rule to respond to public comments on the proposals.”