About Medicare
The federal Medicare program is an essential pillar of the state’s health care system, supporting more than 6 million Californians over the age of 65 and younger Californians with disabilities. One in five hospitals is at risk of closing, in part because Medicare reimbursement rates are far lower than the cost of providing care. It’s essential that future federal Medicare policy protects patient care.
Summary: FFY 2025 Inpatient Psychiatric Facility PPS Final Rule
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system (PPS) final rule.
What else to know: Finalized payment rates are slightly higher than proposed, but still insufficient relative to input cost inflation.
Summaries Available: FFY 2025 Post-Acute Care Payment Final Rules
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final payment rules for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs), and hospices for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025. CHA has issued members-only summaries of each rule.
What else to know: In general, the payment updates were slightly higher than proposed, but still inadequate relative to input price inflation.
Register for Upcoming DataGen Webinar on FFY 2025 IPPS Final Rule
What’s happening: DataGen will host a webinar on the federal fiscal year 2025 inpatient prospective payment system final rule and analysis overview.
What else to know: Registration is required.
CMS Finalizes Inadequate Inpatient Payment Update
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) finalized fiscal year (FY) 2025 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) rule falls short of what hospitals need to keep up with rising costs and health care needs.
What else to know: The rule includes a net market basket update of 2.9%. As a result of all changes, CMS estimates that hospital inpatient payments will increase by $2.9 billion in FY 2025.
Summary of Physician Fee Schedule Proposals, Specialty Impact Analysis Available
What’s happening: CHA has issued a members-only summary and specialty impact analysis of the calendar year 2025 physician fee schedule (PFS) proposed rule.
What else to know: Comments on the proposed rule are due to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by Sept. 9.
CMS Releases Post-Acute Care, Psych Payment Final Rules
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) prospective payment system (PPS), skilled-nursing facility (SNF) PPS, inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) PPS, and hospice wage index final rules.
What else to know: The policy and payment provisions in the final rules will be effective for FFY 2025 discharges, beginning Oct. 1.
CHA Issues Summary of CY 2025 OPPS Proposals
What’s happening: CHA has issued a comprehensive summary of the calendar year (CY) 2025 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) proposed rule.
What else to know: CHA will hold a webinar on the OPPS proposals on Aug. 8.
CHA to Host Webinar on OPPS and PFS Updates
What’s happening: CHA is holding a members-only webinar on Aug. 8 at noon (PT) to discuss the 2025 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and physician fee schedule (PFS) proposed rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
What else to know: The webinar will cover key proposals in these proposed rules ahead of the comment deadline and feature CHA’s Megan Howard, vice president, policy, and Chad Mulvany, vice president, policy, as speakers. Registration is open.
CMS Offers Training for PAC Quality Reporting
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a web-based training course on post-acute care (PAC) quality reporting programs (QRPs) for the 2025 fiscal and calendar years.
What else to know: The course provides an overview of key updates to PAC QRPs for all PAC settings, including inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), long-term care hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, and home health agencies.
Summary: CY 2025 Home Health PPS Proposed Rule
What’s happening: A members-only summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., of the calendar year (CY) 2025 home health prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rule is available.
What else to know: Comments on the proposals are due to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by Aug. 26.