AHA comments on FY 2023 proposed rule for inpatient rehabilitation facilities

Commenting today on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed rule for the inpatient rehabilitation facility prospective payment system for fiscal year 2023, the association expressed deep concern that the proposed market-basket adjustment and productivity reduction do not reflect hospitals’ actual costs or productivity losses during the pandemic. The comments also asked CMS to mitigate the significant increase proposed for the FY 2023 high-cost outlier threshold and to study the accuracy of the current IRF transfer policy. In addition, AHA voiced support for the proposed permanent cap on wage index decreases but urges the agency to implement the change in a non-budget neutral manner. The association also supported the proposed changes for teaching IRFs; and suggests the agency give IRFs until Oct. 1, 2024, to implement the new patient assessment instrument at admission and discharge.