Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program
What happened
Signed by Donald Trump, this final rule updates payment rates for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs) for Federal Fiscal Year 2027. It finalizes the last year of a three-year phaseout of the rural adjustment and requires all therapy treatments or evaluations to begin no later than 36 hours from midnight on the day of admission. Additionally, the initial Interdisciplinary Team meeting must occur within 4 days of admission.
Why it matters
This policy sets the financial framework for inpatient rehabilitation care providers, influencing their operational procedures and the timing of patient treatments. Changes to therapy start times and team meetings aim to standardize care delivery and potentially affect patient recovery timelines.
Who it affects
- ›Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs)
- ›Medicare beneficiaries receiving rehabilitation
- ›Therapists and medical staff at IRFs
- ›Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) providers
The receipts are official. The summary is ours.
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