FY 2018 Proposed Medicare Payments
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued FY2018 proposed Medicare payment rules for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and hospice providers. (See here, here, and here for more details.)
In accordance with the MACRA law, IRF, SNF, and hospice payments will increase by one percent (1.0%) relative to FY 2017. This represents an $80 million increase for IRFs, a $390 million increase for SNFs, and a $180 million increase for hospice providers. These proposed payments represent small annual payment increases to rehab, skilled nursing, and hospice facilities in 2018.
More critical for physicians participating in Medicare will be the announcement – coming soon – by CMS of the proposed rules for the 2018 Quality Payment Program (MACRA) regulation and proposed 2018 Physician Fee Schedule regulation.
We’ll provide any breaking updates during this month’s “Health Reform Simplified” webinar scheduled for May 18, 4:00 p.m. EDT/1:00 p.m. PDT. Register here.