CMS Proposes 1.7% Pay Increase For Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities

CMS on Thursday (April 18) proposed to increase Medicare payments to inpatient psychiatric facilities by 1.7% in fiscal 2020 while adding a new quality measure intended to assess whether patients with certain diagnoses are filling their prescriptions after being discharged from such facilities. The changes are found in the annual proposed pay rule that affects 1,600 psychiatric hospitals and hospital units. Once finalized, the rule will take effect Oct. 1. The proposed 1.7% pay increase compared to fiscal 2019 amounts...