CMS: Changes in IPPS, LTCH PPS final rule empower patients, reduce administrative burden

Editor's Note

On August 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) rule for FY 2019.

The rule will empower patients and advance the White House “MyHealthData” initiative and the CMS “Patients over Paperwork” initiative, CMS says.

The rule also increases IPPS payment rates by approximately 3%, which accounts for inflation and reflects updates required by law and payments for new technologies and uncompensated care.

CMS is updating the LTCH PPS standard federal payment rate by 135%. Overall, CMS projects payments will increase by nearly 0.9%, or $39 million in FY 2019. In addition, CMS is finalizing the proposal to eliminate the 25% threshold policy in a budget neutral manner.