Next Post-acute Care Advocacy call is July 16
We will not have a call in June, but join us on July 16 at 2 p.m. ET for the next Post-acute Care Advocacy call featuring updates on regulatory news and the latest policy and legislative information in the post-acute care area.
Our call schedule for the second half of 2024:
| July 16 | Oct. 22 |
| Aug. 20 | Nov. 19 |
| Sep. 17 | Dec. 17 |
Our monthly member calls will be audio only via Microsoft Teams.
Visit AHA's Post-acute Care website for the full calendar of future calls.
ADVOCACY
AHA says CMS’ proposed FY 2025 LTCH payment updates not enough
The AHA submitted a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Friday, commenting on the fiscal year 2025 proposed rule for the long-term care hospital prospective payment system. The AHA expressed concerns about CMS’ payment updates, which includes an inadequate proposed market basket update as well as a harmful proposed update to high-cost outlier payments. AHA argued that these updates risk jeopardizing care access to some Medicare beneficiaries and lag inflation.
“These escalating costs for essential clinicians, personnel, drugs, supplies, and other items and services have put a strain on the entire health care continuum,” AHA wrote. “In all, Kaufman Hall found that total expenses have risen by 18% for hospitals compared to 2021. This is felt keenly by LTCHs, who care for the highest acuity patients with unique needs.”
The AHA submitted separate comments on the rule’s inpatient PPS and Transforming Episode Accountability Model proposals..
ADVOCACY
AHA helps secure new cybersecurity resources from Microsoft and Google to assist rural hospitals
Microsoft and Google will provide a range of free or discounted cybersecurity services to rural hospitals across the country to help them in their efforts to prevent cyberattacks. The announcement was made on Monday, June 10 in collaboration with the White House and the AHA.
The AHA played a key role in the announcement advising the White House, Microsoft and Google on the cybersecurity challenges facing hospitals and health systems. During the last several months, the AHA worked closely with the groups to identify what services and solutions would be valuable and impactful for hospitals as they continue to strengthen their cybersecurity efforts.
For more details and specifics about the cyber offerings from Microsoft and Google, see AHA Special Bulletin.
ADVOCACY
AHA comments on SNF, IRF proposed rules
The AHA recently submitted a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services responding to a request for information regarding Medicare Advantage data, urging CMS to increase oversight of the program.
"Timely and accurate information on MA plan performance and compliance with existing CMS regulations is critical to ensuring that those enrolled in MA plans are not unfairly subjected to more restrictive rules and requirements than Traditional Medicare, which are contrary to the intent of the MA program and run afoul of federal rules," AHA wrote. "The AHA continues to urge CMS to increase enforcement of existing MA regulations to protect Medicare beneficiaries from inappropriate delays and denials of Medicare-covered services. We believe data collection and reporting on plan performance metrics that are meaningful indicators of patient access are a critical component of an effective enforcement strategy and strongly support CMS efforts to require MA plans to submit additional information necessary to conduct appropriate oversight."
The AHA also raised concerns about certain prior authorization practices, access to post-acute care services, vertical integration of large, national insurers, and the timeliness of insurer payment for services, among other issues, suggesting additional data collection, reporting and policy changes that could help to improve oversight and transparency in these areas. Finally, the association discussed implications for the continued rapid growth in MA enrollment and how it may affect Traditional Medicare, as well as special considerations for rural and critical access hospitals that may be uniquely affected by growing MA penetration.
ADVOCACY
AHA comments on SNF, IRF proposed rules
AHA commented last month on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed rules for the skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation facility prospective payment systems for fiscal year 2025, expressing concerns about CMS' approach to market basket updates for both, claiming they fail to account for inflation and growth. SNFs are proposed to receive a 4.1% net update for FY 2025, while IRFs would receive a proposed 2.8% increase.
AHA also expressed concerns about quality reporting program requirements under both proposed rules.
SPOTLIGHT | Community Health Improvement Week
OBSERVANCE
Community Health Improvement Week brings hospitals and communities together
Join AHA's Community Health Improvement network in celebrating Community Health Improvement Week June 10-14. This annual celebration is a time to honor those working in partnership to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities and advance health equity. LEARN MORE
AHA EVENT | FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE