The government agency that advises Congress on Medicare payment matters met publicly in Washington, D.C. last week.
During the virtual meeting, members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission discussed and debated future Medicare payments for:
- hospital inpatient services
- hospital outpatient services
- physician services
- ambulatory surgical center services
- outpatient dialysis
- hospice care
- skilled nursing facilities
- home health
- inpatient rehabilitation facilities
- long-term-care hospitals
MedPAC is an independent congressional agency that advises Congress on issues involving Medicare. While its recommendations are not binding on either Congress or the administration, MedPAC is highly influential in governing circles and its recommendations often find their way into legislation, regulations, and new public policy. Because so many patients of community safety-net hospitals are insured by Medicare, MedPAC’s deliberations are especially important to those hospitals.
For a look at the agenda for the two-day meeting and to find the presentations for each of these subjects, go here.
