AHA submits comments on LTCH interim final rule

The American Hospital Association on June 27 urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to update the long-term care hospital prospective payment system rate for 2009 based on the rate that was in effect for nine months of rate year 2008, instead of the 2007 amount the agency proposed in its May 6 interim final rule. In a letter to the agency, the AHA pointed out that while the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 specifically reduced LTCH payments to the 2007 standard rate for discharges occurring between April 1 and June 30, 2008, “it did not in any way refer to payments for discharges occurring during or after rate year 2009, which begins July 1.”

[ via AHA News Now ]