AHA comments on certain MedPAC proposals for EDs, post-acute care

The AHA Friday expressed concern with certain policy options discussed by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission at its November meeting. “We are primarily concerned about MedPAC’s potential recommendations regarding site-neutral payments to hospital-based off-campus [emergency departments] in urban areas, and payments to [post-acute care] providers,” wrote Ashley Thompson, AHA senior vice president for public policy analysis and development. “The proposals set forth in both of these areas are premature and have not been completely thought through or analyzed. We are specifically concerned that the site-neutral recommendations would be disruptive to providers, patients and communities alike and that the PAC payment recommendations are not feasible to implement.” AHA also continued to urge that the commission use data and experience from the field before advocating for major changes to the new Merit-based Incentive Payment System for physicians.