Post-Acute Care: The Congress & CMS Must Act To Implement Recommended Changes To PAC Payments
On March 15, 2017, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEPAC) released these recommendations regarding post-acute care (PAC) payments reform, including payment updates and payment system revisions. The recommendations come in light of known shortcomings of the skilled nursing facility and home health agency prospective payment systems (PPS), and high payments relative to the costs of treating beneficiaries.
The Commission has two goals in making payment recommendations and revisions. The recommendation updates create adequate payments so that beneficiary access is preserved while taxpayers and the long-run sustainability of the program are protected. The revision updates match program payments to . . .