CMS releases IPPS

Malnutrition codes proposed for CC status; 584.8 for downgrade

Inpatient acute care hospitals could see a 2.3% increase in payment rates under the fiscal year (FY) 2013 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule, released April 24. The 2.3% is a net update after inflation, improvements in productivity, a statutory adjustment factor, and adjustments for hospital documentation and coding changes. In addition, the IPPS proposed rule contains provisions to strengthen the Hospital Inpatient  Quality Reporting (IQR) program and proposes new policies and measures for the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program.

“If the goal is to reward excellence, hospitals have to ensure that their coders are up to speed with appropriate identification of complications and with [present-on-admission] indicators as well as the over-documentation issues that could lead to financial penalties,” says Robert S. Gold, MD, CEO of DCBA, Inc., in Atlanta.