CMS Publishes Proposed Policy and 2012 Payment Changes for Stays in Hospitals and Affordable Care Act Quality of Care Provisions

On April 19, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted proposed updates to the Inpatient and Long-term Care Hospital Prospective Payment Systems for fiscal year 2012 (FY 2012). The proposed rule continues to implement various provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including Hospital Readmission Penalty programs and updates to the Value-based Purchasing program. CMS will consider comments received by June 20, 2011, and will respond to them in a final rule to be issued by August 1, 2011.

This white paper summarizes key provisions of the proposed rule. Hospitals are encouraged to review the entire rule, and to evaluate the impact of all of the proposed changes. The proposed rule will appear in the May 5, 2011, Federal Register and on the CMS website, www.cms.gov.