AAHKS Comments on Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) received comments from AAHKS on its hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) proposed rule for fiscal year 2017. Our comments focused on three issues: combination codes for removal and replacement of knee joints, risk-adjusting for sociodemographic factors under the hospital readmissions reduction program, and the value-based purchasing (VBP) program proposed scoring methodology for the proposed AMI payment and HF payment measures. We expressed concerns about the timetable that CMS is working on regarding adjusting the MS-DGRs and how a delay will affect data for CJR participants. Read the letter. Read the letter.