Why Home Health Agencies Could See an Unfavorable Medicare Payment Landscape in 2023

Dwelling health and fitness operators must dig in even further more ahead of the Medicare reimbursement struggle coming later this calendar year.

The U.S. Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Expert services (CMS) released its 2023 proposed payment rule for the nursing residence business previously this thirty day period. In it, the agency referred to as for a 3.9% improve to Medicare payments for expert nursing amenities (SNFs) – with a 4.6% reduce to the Affected individual-Pushed Payment Design (PDPM).

Broadly, CMS states the downward adjustment to PDPM is to make up for the payment overhaul’s unintended payment raise to SNF operators. Nursing property advocates, on the other hand, claim the proposed cut would be harming to an currently beleaguered corner of overall health care.

“Any reduction in government means could deepen the economic crisis presently within just the extended-time period and article-acute care sector,” Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Overall health Care Association (AHCA), claimed in a assertion. “Many nursing households already facial area imminent closure, and this Medicare lower could force additional seniors across the place to relocate and discover choice treatment farther away from loved ones and cherished types.”

Traditionally, SNFs have been the canary in the coal mine for residence health and fitness agencies. What CMS does in the previous, it typically tries to do in the latter.