CMS issues LTCH PPS proposed rule for FY 2022

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued a proposed rule for the long-term care hospital prospective payment system for fiscal year 2022. Under the rule, overall aggregate payments for LTCHs would increase by 1.4% ($52 million) relative to FY 2021 payments. This includes payment increases for all LTCH cases, both those paid under the “standard" LTCH PPS as well as “site-neutral” cases, which are projected to account for 10% of aggregate LTCH payments in FY 2022. Of note, CMS proposes to adjust several standard calculations to avoid factoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic into its proposed FY 2022 payment update. For the LTCH Quality Reporting Program, CMS proposes to adopt a measure assessing COVID-19 vaccination among health care personnel beginning in FY 2023. Comments to CMS are due by June 28. AHA members will receive a Special Bulletin tomorrow with more details.