AHA urges MedPAC to recommend adjusting FY 2024 market basket update

Dec 01, 2022 - 03:43 PM
U.S. Capitol building with United States flags flying in front of it.

As the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission considers Medicare payment adequacy, AHA today encouraged the panel to recommend adding a one-time retrospective adjustment to the fiscal year 2024 market basket updates to help hospitals and health systems remain financially viable.
 
“Health care providers continue to struggle with persistently higher costs and additional downstream challenges that have emerged because of the lasting and durable impacts of high inflation and the pandemic,” AHA wrote. “We urge MedPAC to consider these dynamics on Medicare payment updates for FY 2024.”
 
Among other comments, AHA urged the commission to consider an alternative approach, AHA's Metropolitan Anchor Hospital designation, to supporting safety-net hospitals and health systems; to abandon further recommendations regarding site-neutral payment policies; and to consider the potential impact of certain primary care payment proposals on specialty care shortages and disparities.

Related News Articles

Headline
AHA responds to House request for information on modernizing MACRA
The AHA Jan. 20 made recommendations to Congress on modernizing the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act. Among the proposals, the AHA recommended…
Headline
Comment deadline nears for 2027 Medicare Advantage, Part D policy proposals
The comment period for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed rule for policies governing the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs for…
Headline
MedPAC recommends Medicare 2027 payment updates to Congress for inpatient, outpatient services
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Jan. 15 voted to recommend that Congress update Medicare payment rates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services…
Headline
UHG launches pilot program for rural hospitals in 4 states to cut MA payment collection times by half
UnitedHealth Group announced Jan. 14 that it launched a six-month pilot program to reduce Medicare Advantage payment processing times by half for rural…
Headline
Senate report says UHG used ‘aggressive strategies’ to increase MA payments 
A Senate Judiciary Committee report released Jan. 12 found that UnitedHealth Group used “aggressive strategies” to maximize its Medicare Advantage risk-…
Headline
CMS issues RFI on effort to revamp Medicare claims system 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a request for information seeking input on replacing its Medicare claims processing system with a…