Inpatient rehabilitation facilities and inpatient psychiatric facilities are likely to see Medicare rate increases in fiscal 2023.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is proposing that inpatient rehabilitation facilities receive a Medicare rate of 2.8% in fiscal 2023.If finalized by CMS, this would be an increase of $170 million over FY 2022 its proposalwhich is largely based on inflation.

CMS is also asking for feedback on the possible inclusion of family health in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Transfer Policy, as before recommended Provided by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. If Medicare had implemented such a policy, it would have saved $993 million in 2017 and 2018, the OIG found.

CMS will examine the home health statement to see if this change is appropriate, and hopes the comments will help shape analysis and future rulemaking.

Additionally, CMS recommends extending the inpatient rehabilitation facility quality data reporting requirements to all patients, regardless of payer. These requirements currently apply to patients with Medicare Part A fee-for-service coverage and Medicare Advantage coverage, but expanded reporting will help ensure that all patients receive the same quality of care, and provider metrics show patient performance. If finalized, this would take effect in fiscal year 2025, meaning providers would need to begin collecting patient assessments for all patients starting October 1, 2023.

CMS seeks input on whether a digital quality measure should be added to inpatient rehabilitation facilities to track new C. difficile infections in patients already admitted to the facility. C. diff is an infection-causing bacterium that most commonly affects older adults in hospitals and long-term care facilities. According to CMS, if finalized, this will be the first digital measure in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Quality Reporting Program.

Inpatient psychiatric facilities could increase by 1.5% or $50 million under CMS proposal.

The agency also wishes to comment on the goals and methodologies for measuring health care disparities among CMS quality programs, guidelines for social risk factors and population data selection, and other health equity considerations. Reviews will inform equity efforts in behavioral health programs and inpatient psychiatric hospital quality reporting programs.

CMS would like to comment on the measurement of equity and disparities in health care quality in the CMS Quality Program for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Communities.

CMS proposes to limit the annual decline in the wage index for both supplier types to 5% to smooth the year-over-year transition.The agency recommends The same policy for hospice in Wednesday’s notice.