Medicare

General Information

• CMS Bundled Payment Initiative: Response Requested; Extension of Application Deadline to June 28, 2012
• Illinois Hospitals and Health Systems $78.7 Billion State Economic Impact (2012 Economic Impact report)
  • IHA Press Release: Illinois Hospitals Generate $78.7 Billion Annual Impact on State's Economy (2/20/12)
• Medicare/Medicaid Reductions in President's FY2013 Budget Proposal (2/14/12)
  • Estimate of Medicare Reductions to Illinois Hospitals Under President's Budget Proposal (2/14/12)
  • Estimate of National Medicare & Medicaid Reductions Under President's Budget Proposal (2/14/12)
• IHA Membership Dues Allocable to Lobbying Expenditures (2/17/12)
• Observation Stays - Responding to feedback from members and legislators asking for educational materials to help explain observation care, specifically how it relates to Medicare billing and three-day-stay requirements for skilled nursing care, the following IHA resources have been developed to enhance providers' and patients' understanding of observation care - View resource tools. 
• Manipulation of Medicare IPPS Wage Index and Steps to Mitigate (8/8/11)
• CMS Issues Final IPPS Rule for FY2012 (8/2/11)

Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Information

• RAC Update: Highlights of significant achievements in 2011 and expected challenges in 2012 - Note: CMS has announced a delay in the planned Jan. 1, 2012 implementation of the RAC prepayment review demonstration project described on page 3 of this memo.(12/29/11)

IHA Comment Letters

• CMS 0044P: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Electronic Health Record Incentive Program (5/7/12)
• CMS 6037-P: Medicare Program - Reporting and Returning of Overpayments; Proposed Rule (4/16/12)
• CMS 1525-P: Medicare and Medicaid Programs - Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment  (8/30/11)
• June 21 Deadline to Comment on CMS' Rehab Rule (6/16/11)
• June 20 Deadline to Comment on CMS' IPPS Rule (6/16/11)
• CMS 1351-P: Medicare Program - PPS and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities (6/16/11) 
• CMS 3239-P: Medicare Program - Hospital Inpatient Value-Based Purchasing Program Proposed Rule (3/7/11)
  • Medicare Value-Based Purchasing Proposed Rule Hospital Sample Comment Letter (Word document)