CMS proposes policies to promote health equity in hospitals

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week proposed several policies to promote health equity in hospitals. Included in the agency’s inpatient prospective payment system and long-term care hospital prospective payment system proposed rules, the agency proposes to adopt hospital quality measures to foster safety, equity and reduce preventable harm in the hospital setting. CMS also proposes to recognize homelessness as an indicator of increased resource utilization in the acute inpatient hospital setting, which may result in higher payment for certain hospital stays. Comments on the proposed rules are due by June 9. (CMS news release, 4/10/23)