Two More Provisions of ACA Now in Effect
(Editor's Note: This guest blog was written by Michael LaMagna.)
As of Oct.1, 2012, two very important provisions of the Affordable Care
Act (ACA) went into effect, which will significantly impact hospitals and other
healthcare facilities. The two provisions are: 1) penalizing hospitals for
readmitting patients within 30 days of discharge and 2) utilizing hospital
value-based purchasing, which ties hospital payments to achieving clinical
thresholds.
It is anticipated that more than 2,200 hospitals will be fined at least
$125,000 this year as a result of readmissions. As expected, the hospitals are
outraged for being fined for conditions that may be out of their control, which
includes the readmission of chronically ill people. The variables that will be
measured in the first year include: heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia.
The penalty is capped at 1% of the hospital's Medicare payments, rising to 3% in
the next few years and adding variables, which includes: joint replacements,
stenting, heart bypass and stroke.
Hospitals have been looking to after-hospital care, including: rehab centers,
hospices, home health agencies and nursing homes to decrease the incidences of
readmissions. The major emphasis has been on effective discharge planning and
wellness programs.
Regarding the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program, Medicare will look at
a set of standard clinical quality measures and on surveys of patients'
experience, to determine reimbursement. Medicare has been sharing data with the
hospitals to assist with diminishing their impact and the public can view the
information on Hospital Compare, located at http://www.medicare.gov/ starting later this
month.
This article is provided for informational purposes only. Nothing in this
article shall be construed as legal advice or should be relied upon as such.
Michael LaMagna is a partner at Timins & LaMagna, LLP, practicing Health
Care Regulatory, Elder /Probate/Disability/Trusts and Estates, Social Security
and General Legal practice in both New York and Connecticut. Michael was just
appointed to the ACO Task Force of the American Health Lawyers Association.
Email him at Mlamagna@nyandctlaw.com, call him
at 914-819-0663 or visit Attorney LaMagna's website at www.nyandctlaw.com
for more information.