Medicare Payment Cuts Urged for Nursing Homes, Other Providers

A key advisory panel to Congress on Tuesday recommended increasing Medicare payment rates for acute care hospitals, long-term care hospitals, and outpatient dialysis facilities next year, while calling for a 5% pay cut for nursing homes, home health agencies, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s annual March report to Congress called for lawmakers to keep 2021 payment rates for ambulatory surgical centers, hospice providers, and clinicians paid under the physician fee schedule.

The commission, an independent congressional agency established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, advises Congress on issues related to the Medicare program. Lawmakers may ...