MedPAC reviews possible new post-acute pay model

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened to review a prototype design that might meet guidelines for Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (the IMPACT Act).

The meetings, lasting yesterday and today, focused on creating a new unified payment system for post-acute care services that reflects the range of services provided with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services new reimbursement model.

The proposed approach calls for two models based on service provider. Patients in skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities and long-term care hospitals would be covered for non-therapy ancillary services, including ventilator services and drugs. There would be a separate component for home health agency patients, who are not currently reimbursed for those services. Commission staff said the model distinction was driven by a difference in cost, according to a news release from the American Health Association.

The commission’s report on the prototype is due to Congress June 2016.

The commission’s agenda also included sessions about factors affecting variation in Medicare Advantage plan star ratings.

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.