Future Impact of New Regulations

Implications: Infection Rates and Quality Indicators now impact reimbursement. The Revenue Cycle Team at a hospital must incorporate both features into any work plan.

Analysis:  With the new Infection standard and the withholding of reimbursement for associated stays, the impact should be felt more at larger hospitals. The national hospital infection rate is 9 percent. Our hospital boasts of a 0.5 percent rate. Most smaller hospitals have better infection rates and should suffer less with the new policy.

In addition, Medicare pays a 2% bonus to hospitals that report quality indicators. There is definitely a trend by CMS to both reward and penalize hospitals based upon quality standards.