MedPAC releases June report to Congress, opts against recommending further adjustment to IRF reimbursement

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission June 13 released its June report to Congress. As urged by the AHA, the commission did not recommend a payment reduction for inpatient rehabilitation facility services based upon patient conditions. Instead, the commission concluded that the determination of the appropriateness of IRF care for each patient is complex and that payment reductions would risk unintended outcomes, including jeopardizing access to needed care for the patient types in question.   
  
“The AHA agrees with MedPAC’s conclusion that disincentivizing admission for patients that require IRF care would be poor policy,” stated Joanna Hiatt Kim, AHA vice president for payment policy. “Determining placement for patients in need of post-acute care is complex, we are pleased MedPAC recognized these complexities and did not recommend an approach that would jeopardize access for these patients.”  

In addition, MedPAC's June report includes recommendations related to clinician payments and incentives for participating in alternative payment models; provider networks and prior authorization in Medicare Advantage; measuring health care utilization by Medicare Advantage enrollees; paying for software technologies in Medicare; and Medicare's Acute Hospital Care at Home program.