The CMS “wage index” remains a vital (and controversial) component of how hospitals receive payment for services to Medicare beneficiaries. CMS recognizes that labor costs vary from one area to the next. So, as a part of the methodology for determining IPPS (inpatient prospective payment) reimbursement, standardized amounts are adjusted for area differences in facilities’ [...]
Participating in the Olympic Games can create career-defining moments for elite athletes. Similarly, healthcare providers that participate in alternative (or “value-based”) payment models can yield desirable benefits for themselves and their patients. These models are intended to incentivize a greater continuity and coordination of care between providers, leading to better patient outcomes at lower costs. [...]
In January 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an initiative to quickly move the Medicare payment system away from traditional fee-for-service reimbursements and toward those linked to value and quality – including alternative (or value-based) payment models. Most, if not all, healthcare providers are at least partially affected by these models. [...]
