Senate Finance Draft Extender Legislation Tweaks Low-Volume Hospital Program, Home-Health Rural Add-On

A legislative discussion draft obtained by Inside Health Policy shows the Senate Finance Committee is considering extending a number of Medicare payment programs -- many of which historically were renewed alongside patches to the Sustainable Growth Rate -- for between two and five years, including: the Geographic Practice Expense Index (GPCI) Floor, ambulance add-on payments, low-volume hospital adjustments, the Medicare Dependent Hospital program, home health rural add-on, funding for quality measures, the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting...