CMS issues Medicare IRF, SNF and hospice proposed rules for 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued proposed rules for inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities and hospice providers for fiscal year 2018. In accordance with the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, IRF, SNF and hospice payments will increase by 1.0% relative to FY 2017. For IRFs, this represents an $80 million increase, SNFs will receive an increase of $390 million and aggregate payments to hospice providers will increase by $180 million. In addition, CMS has issued a separate advance notice of proposed rulemaking that seeks comments on potential options the agency may consider for revising the existing SNF payment system, including the possibility of replacing the existing payment classifications, known as RUGs, with a new model. CMS also proposes the addition of standardized patient assessment data to the IRF and SNF quality reporting programs, as well as added and removed measures for the hospice quality reporting program. The proposed rule also provides estimated performance standards and timelines for the FY 2020 program year of the SNF value-based purchasing program, among other policies. CMS is accepting comments on the proposed rules and the SNF advance notice through June 26. AHA members will receive a Special Bulletin with more information.