S. 543 would improve Medicare beneficiary access by extending the 60 percent compliance threshold used to determine whether a hospital or unit of a hospital is an inpatient rehabilitation facility under the Medicare program.
Detailed Summary
Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act of 2007 - Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to revise the classification criterion used to determine whether a hospital or hospital unit is an inpatient rehabilitation facility under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Eliminates the current schedule of applicable percentages. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, instead, to require in the classification criterion a compliance rate no greater than the 60% compliance rate that became effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2005.
Requires the Secretary, for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2007, to include patients with comorbidity in the inpatient population that counts towards such 60% compliance rate.
Requires the Secretary, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, fiscal intermediaries, Medicare administrative contractors, recovery audit contractors, and other government agents to use and apply the criteria established in HCFA Ruling 85-2, as issued on July 31, 1985, as the sole standard for determining the medical necessity of services provided by inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units to beneficiaries under the Medicare program.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 2/12/2007: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Sharon Glass
Doctors should be the ones that say if a patient needs rehab. not Washington! Some day you all may need rehab, but of course, all of the rich people can always pay for their own services. However, dont you think that it is time for you to think about everyone else in the united states, besides yoursevles. We cant afford to pay for our own services. Some of us can't even afford healthcare. Senior Citizens can't even afford their Medicare. You keep taking more money from us and we have little left to live on.