MedPAC discusses draft payment recommendations for 2022

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission this week discussed a draft recommendation to increase payment rates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services by 2% in 2022. Commissioners also continue to consider an additional payment allotment to the Hospital Value Incentive Program proposed last year. MedPAC also discussed proposals to:

• increase 2022 payment rates for long-term care hospitals by 2% and for physicians and other health professional services by the amount specified in current law;
• reduce 2022 payment rates for both home health agencies and inpatient rehabilitation facilities by 5%;
• eliminate the update for 2022 to the ambulatory surgical center conversion factor, skilled nursing facility base payment, and hospice base payment;
• require ASCs to report cost data; and
• wage adjust and reduce the hospice aggregate cap by 20%.

The commission will vote on the recommendations in January.