United States. Congress

“ In General.— The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall analyze payments for non-therapy ancillary services under a future skilled nursing facility classification system to ensure the accuracy of payment for non-therapy ancillary services. Such analysis shall consider use of appropriate indicators which may include age, physical and mental status, ability to perform activities of daily living, prior nursing home stay, broad RUG category, and a proxy for length of stay. ”

“ Structure of Payment Increase.— The Secretary shall compute the increase in Medicare DSH under paragraph (1) (B) for a fiscal year in accordance with a formula established by the Secretary that provides that— (i) the aggregate amount of such increase for the fiscal year does not exceed 50 percent of the aggregate reduction in Medicare DSH estimated by the Secretary for such fiscal year; and (ii) hospitals with higher levels of uncompensated care receive a greater increase. ”

“ Outliers based on aggregate costs.—Outlier adjustments or additional payments described in subparagraph (A) shall be based on aggregate costs during a stay in a skilled nursing facility and not on the number of days in such stay. `` (C) Budget neutrality.—The Secretary shall reduce estimated payments that would otherwise be made under the prospective payment system under this subsection with respect to a fiscal year by 2 percent. ”