Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act of 2021

Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act of 2021

This bill allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to adjust the federal per diem payment rate for Medicare skilled nursing facilities in Alaska or Hawaii to reflect the unique circumstances of such facilities.

Bill 117 hr 5312, also known as the Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act of 2021, aims to address disparities in Medicare payments to nursing facilities. The bill seeks to ensure that nursing facilities receive fair and equitable payments based on the needs of their residents, rather than arbitrary factors.

The legislation proposes several key provisions to achieve this goal. First, it calls for the establishment of a payment system that takes into account the acuity of residents in nursing facilities, as well as the costs associated with providing care to those residents. This would help to ensure that facilities caring for sicker or more complex patients receive adequate reimbursement for their services.

Additionally, the bill includes measures to improve transparency and accountability in the Medicare payment system for nursing facilities. It requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide regular updates on payment rates and methodologies, as well as to conduct audits to ensure that payments are being made accurately and fairly. Overall, the Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act of 2021 aims to address long-standing issues with the Medicare payment system for nursing facilities and ensure that providers are adequately compensated for the care they provide to vulnerable populations. By implementing a more equitable payment system, the bill seeks to improve the quality of care for nursing facility residents and promote better outcomes for all stakeholders involved.