Proposed Rule Aims to Improve Accuracy of Medicare Hospital Payments

Published on:
16 April 2007 at 04:55 a.m. ET

Written by: Unknown Author –

http://www.insidearm.com/news/00018923-proposed-rule-aims-to-improve-accuracy-of/

Looking to increase the accuracy of its payments to hospitals, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a proposed “accuracy” rule late Friday.

The proposal seeks to continue steps began by CMS two years ago to adjust payments to hospitals for the severity of illness of the patients they treat.

The proposal also continues a phase-in started in fiscal 2007 by CMS of another step to improve the accuracy of hospital payments — basing payment rates on the actual costs of the hospital rather than on what the facility charges.

The proposal also would create new disclosure requirements for specialty hospitals, which single out a specific category of surgical procedures and boast that their concentration on that type of care makes them more efficient.