The AHA today submitted comments on the long-term care hospital payment and quality reporting provisions included in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed rule for the hospital inpatient and LTCH prospective payment system for fiscal year 2019. “The AHA supports several of the proposed rule’s provisions,” the association said. “In particular, we appreciate and endorse the agency’s proposal to permanently withdraw the 25% Rule; however, we oppose the associated budget neutrality adjustment proposed by CMS. We also support the proposed changes related to co-located satellite facilities, and the streamlining of the LTCH quality reporting program. In addition, this letter reiterates our concerns related to underpayment for site-neutral cases.” According to AHA’s analyses, Medicare pays LTCHs less than half the cost of care for site-neutral cases, even though the average acuity level and cost of care are far higher for these cases.

Related News Articles

Blog
Public
The Paragon Health Institute has published a series of new reports once again alleging large-scale “fraud” in health care. This time their target is enrollment…
Headline
The American Organization for Nursing Leadership Aug, 15 announced that Stuart Downs, DNP, R.N., was elected as the 2026 president-elect of the AONL Board of…
Headline
The AHA and Federation of American Hospitals Aug. 8 filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in support of the U.S.…
Headline
President Trump Aug. 7 issued an executive order, “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking,” requiring government agencies to review new and discretionary…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 15 issued a proposed rule that would increase Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system…
Headline
AHA May 23 submitted recommendations to the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission in response to the agencies’ requests for information on…