The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published the Final 2019 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Rule that modified the definition of a low-volume hospital. While the mileage requirement remained the same, the rule changed the discharge requirement from Medicare discharges to total discharges for Federal Fiscal Years 2019 through 2022. The updated definition now allows a PPS hospital that meets the mileage requirement and has less than 3,800 total discharges during the fiscal year to receive a low-volume add on payment. Hospitals have until September 1, 2018, to request to receive low-volume add on payments starting October 1, 2018.
If you need any assistance or have any questions, we are available to discuss this change with you. Please contact Kyle Smith at 317-713-7957 or kcsmith@blueandco.com.
