AAHKS submitted comments to CMS this week regarding the proposed rule, “Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Proposed Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2018 Rates.” Our comments were guided by three principles:
- Payment reform is most effective when physician-led.
- The burden of excessive physician reporting on metrics detracts from care.
- Patient access, especially for high-risk patients, and physician incentives must remain a focus.