Statement on the Proposed FY 2022 Inpatient Payment Rule

By Blair Childs, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs

Premier is encouraged that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing mitigation policies that recognize hospitals’ continued need to adapt their care processes to respond to the pandemic. The policies CMS is proposing to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on quality measures will help prevent a hospital’s quality score from telling a false story and being unfairly penalized. We are also pleased that CMS is providing an option for Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs to opt-out of advancing to the next level of risk for PY 2022. Given the data uncertainty and the need to focus on COVID-19 care, it’s appropriate CMS is allowing ACOs to pause their progression to risk for one year.