Special Edition: Rural Health ODF- June 7th

Save the Date -- June 7 at 3:30 pm EDT

We are holding a Special Edition CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum call on June 7 at 3:30 pm.  The call will include two important topics:  an opportunity to give CMS input on the HHS Budget proposal for CAH payment, and an update on the CMS Quality Payment Program.

The FY 2017 Budget includes a series of Medicare legislative proposals that would help extend the life of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund by over 15 years.  These proposals focus on policy objectives such as promoting high quality, efficient care, improving beneficiary access to care, and more closely aligning payments to providers with costs of care.  Among these proposals is the proposal to reduce Critical Access Hospital reimbursement from 101 percent of reasonable costs to 100 percent of reasonable costs.  This proposal would result in a savings of approximately $1.7 billion over 10 years.  We hope you can join us to share your thoughts on this proposal along with specific information on the impact on your hospital,  at the next Rural Health Open Door Forum scheduled for Tuesday June 14th from 3:30 to 4:30 EST.  We look forward to your participation.

CMS is embarking on an outreach effort regarding its Quality Payment Program.  Participants will hear details on how to ensure they are getting the latest information on this very important initiative.  You can get more information on the QPP by going to https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-Based-Programs/MACRA-MIPS-and-APMs/Quality-Payment-Program.html