McClellan on inpatient rule
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
"We are acutely aware of the disruptions that could occur if major changes are made too quickly or inappropriately," writes CMS Administrator Mark McClellan in a July 20 letter to Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). He notes that the final inpatient payment system rule, due out Aug. 1, "will reflect modifications as appropriate to achieve the goal of smooth and effective implementation." The letter is in response to comments signed by 53 senators and 189 representatives urging a one-year delay to proposed changes to the system that would switch to cost-based payments and adjust diagnosis-related groups for illness severity (1"The Gray Sheet" July 17, 2006, p. 6)...