Becker's Hospital Review

14 FINANCE Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program In the final rule, CMS makes changes to the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program, which was established under the ACA. CMS is adding a care coordination measure beginning with the FY 2018 program year and a 30-day mortality measure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease beginning with the FY 2021 program year. CMS is also removing two measures, effective with the FY 2018 program year. PSS-Exempt Cancer Hospital Quality Reporting program Established by the ACA, the PCHQR program collects and publishes data on an announced set of quality measures. In the final rule, CMS fi- nalizes three new patient safety measures under the program. e three new measures are: a Clostridium difficile infection outcome measure, a hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bactere- mia outcome measure and a measure of influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel. e final rule was published in the Federal Reg- ister Aug. 17. Comments on the rule are due Sept. 29, and the rule is effective Oct. 1. n 9 7 8 10 W ith the current delay set to expire Sept. 30, CMS extended the partial enforcement delay of the "two-midnight" rule through the end of the year. Under the extension, Recovery Audit Contractors are prohibited from conducting post-payment patient status reviews for claims with dates of admission from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. American Hospital Association Executive Vice President Rick Pollack was pleased with CMS' decision to delay enforcement; however, he noted there is still work to be done. "We will continue to work with [CMS] as it finalizes its two- midnight policy changes and implements reforms to the flawed RAC program," he said. In addition, CMS announced that beginning Oct. 1, Quality Improvement Organizations — groups of health quality experts, clinicians and consumers who work under direction of CMS — will assume responsibility for conducting initial patient status reviews to determine the appropriateness of Part A payment for short-stay inpatient hospital claims. These reviews were previously conducted by Medicare Administrative Contractors. From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, short-stay inpatient hospital reviews conducted by the Quality improvement Organizations will be based on Medicare's current payment policies. Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, Quality Improvement Organizations and Recovery Audit Contractors will conduct patient status reviews in accordance with the two- midnight policy changes finalized in the Outpatient Prospective Payment System rule and effective in calendar year 2016. n CMS Delays Enforcement of 'Two-Midnight' Rule Again By Ayla Ellison

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