The MHA recently submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed updates to the Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2025. Updates to the hospital and Critical Access Hospital conditions include revisions to the Conditions of Participation for infection prevention and control programs and antibiotic stewardship programs.
Part of the proposed rule aims to extend the current COVID-19 and influenza reporting requirements to include respiratory syncytial virus, with a new mandate for weekly reporting by hospitals. The MHA, with insights from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology and feedback from member hospitals, expressed strong opposition about this proposal. The primary concern is the potential administrative burden it places on hospital’s infection prevention departments. During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), hospitals faced significant challenges in meeting reporting requirements, often having to divert resources from direct patient care to data collection and reporting.
MHA members also voiced concerns about the utility and transparency of the data collected. Despite the vast amounts of information submitted during the COVID-19 PHE, hospitals have yet to receive actionable insights or reports summarizing the data. Without clear evidence that the data will be used effectively, the added burden of reporting seems unjustified, particularly when hospitals can analyze and use their data at the facility level, as needed.
Despite the MHA’s feedback, the CMS has finalized these new requirements. Members are encouraged to stay informed and prepare for these upcoming changes, effective Oct. 1, 2024.
Members with questions may contact Kelsey Ostergren at the MHA.