CMS floats higher rates for specialty providers

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a trio of new payment rules late Thursday proposing higher reimbursements for several classes of specialty providers.

Skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation and inpatient psychiatric facilities would all see a rate increase of roughly 2 percent next year under the regulation.

{mosads}Provider groups welcomed the proposal as a boost to their members, many of whom have seen cuts in the last five years.

“America’s skilled nursing care centers are pleased to see a proposed two percent market basket increase to providers’ Medicare reimbursement,” said American Health Care Association President Mark Parkinson in a statement.

“These centers have shared in the sacrifice plenty through multiple government reductions over recent years. A stable Medicare payment system is essential in keeping skilled nursing care accessible to our seniors.”

The regulations also outlined certain requirements for reporting measures of care quality.

The proposed rules are available here (inpatient psychiatric facilities, 190 pages) and here (skilled nursing facilities, 98 pages).