MedPAC discusses draft 2017 payment recommendations for post-acute care

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission this week discussed draft recommendations that would provide no market basket update in 2017 for home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities or long-term care hospitals. In addition, the recommendations would rebase HH payments over two years starting in 2018, and eliminate therapy as a factor in setting HH payments. They also would reform the SNF prospective payment system and report to Congress in 2019 on the impacts of those reforms and need for further payment system changes. The draft recommendations also call for further study of concerns related to IRF case selection and coding practices. The commission is expected to vote on final 2017 payment recommendations when it meets in January.