The Hertel Report

1 week ago | thehertelreport.com | Melanie MacEachern

The skilled nursing industry was elated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) proposed rule, which included a 2.8% pay bump for FY 2026. The rate hike falls far short of the 4.2% raise that SNFs received this year and the 4% increase the year prior, but the industry was thrilled with the announcement nonetheless.

1 week ago | thehertelreport.com | Melanie MacEachern

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced its proposed Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update proposed rule for FY 2026. The proposed reimbursement update will raise the base payment rate by 2.4%, lower than the 2025 increase of 2.9%. The increase represents $695 million rise in total hospital payments, Hospice News reports. CMS will also hold its 5% cap on any year-over-year wage increase. According to stakeholders, the increase falls far short of what is needed by the industry.

1 week ago | thehertelreport.com | Melanie MacEachern

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule under the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) and the IRF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. The agency proposes updating the payment rates by 2.6% based on the IRF market baskey update of 3.4%, minus 0.8% for a productivity adjustment.

1 week ago | thehertelreport.com | Melanie MacEachern

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a proposed rule for the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2026. The rule includes a proposed pay bump of 2.4% for hospitals. CMS said that the rate reflects a 3.2% projected hospital market basket increase with a 0.8% productivity adjustment due to anticipated improvements in efficiency, Healthcare Finance News reports.

2 weeks ago | thehertelreport.com | Melanie MacEachern

On Monday, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the federal rule requiring nursing home staffing minimums was unconstitutional, sending sighs of relief throughout the long-term care sector. The rule, rolled out by former President Joe Biden’s administration last year, would have required nursing homes to maintain a registered nurse on staff 24 hours per day, seven days a week, and required nursing homes to provide 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day.