MHA Today | April 12, 2024

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

CMS released the proposed Medicare Inpatient and LTCH PPS payment and policy updates for FY 2025. CMS estimates that IPPS payments will increase $6.2 billion, which consists of $560 million more in Medicare DSH uncompensated care payments and market basket increase of 2.6%. CMS estimates that LTCH payments will increase 1.2% or $26 million. Other proposals include a request for information about the use of Medicare IPPS payment rates for maternity care by other payers, changes to wage index, updates to labor market areas and changes to the quality programs. MHA soon will publish an issue brief with additional information.

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

CMS announced a proposed mandatory Transforming Episode Accountability Model that advances the Innovation Center’s prior work on episode-based alternative payment models. The proposed rule would begin on Jan. 1, 2026, and end on Dec. 31, 2030. The TEAM model would be mandatory for selected acute care hospitals and apply to Traditional Medicare beneficiaries who undergo one of the surgical procedures included in the model. The hospital would be responsible for the cost and quality of care from the surgical service through 30 days after the Medicare beneficiary leaves the hospital. Details about the TEAM model proposal is located within the proposed FY 2025 Inpatient and LTCH PPS proposed rule. CMS is proposing to mandate participation for 25% of the hospitals within the geographic areas beginning on page 1,119 of the pre-published proposed rule.

Staff Contact: Sarah Willson

DHSS, DCR will hold a listening session Tuesday, April 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to share expertise and provide testimony on a variety of topics related to cannabis research and licensing within the state. Registration is required, however interested parties unable to attend may still submit testimonies prior to the listening session. For questions regarding the research license listening session, please reach out to cannabisdevelopment@health.mo.gov.