House Republicans late last night introduced a stop-gap spending measure that would extend government funding until March 23, eliminate $5 billion in scheduled Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, and extend several Medicare payment adjustments that support access in rural communities. Specifically, the bill would extend the Medicare-dependent hospital and low-volume adjustment programs for two years, and home health rural add-on and ground ambulance add-on payments for five years. It also would remove the mandate that meaningful use standards become more stringent over time, as advocated by the AHA, and expand access to telehealth services for stroke patients outside rural areas by eliminating a geographic requirement beginning in January 2021, among other changes. The bill would pay for new spending in part by reducing payments for hospital patients discharged to hospice care before the average Medicare length of stay. The House could vote on the CR as soon as tonight. Federal funding is set to expire on Feb. 8 without congressional action.

Related News Articles

Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday released updated guidance for states submitting Medicaid managed care contracts for review. The…
Headline
Rural health clinics, community-based organizations and others may apply through April 19 for a portion of $13 million in Health Resources and Services…
News
Telehealth Access for America is running digital ads this week in Politico asking Congress to protect access to telehealth services. The AHA is a founding…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday proposed that Medicare cover monoclonal antibodies that target amyloid to treat Alzheimer’s…
News
In a letter today to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, AHA weighed in on draft Medicare payment recommendations for 2023 that would have significant…
Headline
As part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, 1,000 new Medicare-funded residency positions will be distributed starting in fiscal year 2023.…