Lawmakers urge CMS to fix inpatient payment proposal

A bipartisan group of 112 representatives and 30 senators today urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to consider using its special exceptions and adjustments authority to revise the hospital inpatient prospective payment system rule for fiscal year 2023 to more accurately reflect the cost of providing hospital care to patients. Several other senators separately urged CMS to address similar concerns. 

The House and Senate letters express concern that CMS’ proposed rule does not fully account for the current cost of care, and coupled with other policy changes in the rule would result in an overall payment reduction for hospitals. Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Reps. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., and Carol Miller, R-W.Va., spearheaded the letters.