Insights: Policy

Medicare Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Reimbursement

CMS released the proposed rule for the FY27 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Prospective Payment System (PPS). The agency is proposing a 2.4% net payment rate increase (a 3.2% market basket update minus a 0.8% productivity adjustment). After updating the outlier threshold, the effective overall payment growth is approximately 2.8% per...

Medicare Hospice Reimbursement

CMS released the proposed rule for the FY27 Hospice Wage Index & Payment Rate Update. The agency is proposing a 2.4% net payment rate increase – comprising a 3.2% market basket update minus a 0.8% productivity adjustment – projected to result in roughly $785m in additional Medicare payments to hospice providers over FY26.

Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Reimbursement

CMS released the FY27 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) proposed rule. The agency is proposing a 2.4% net payment rate increase – comprising a 3.2% SNF market basket update minus a 0.8% productivity adjustment – projected to result in an $888m aggregate boost in payments next fiscal year.

The Trump administration announced its long-awaited Sec. 232 tariffs on pharmaceutical products. On a related front, the U.S. and UK announced a deal that allows UK-made drugs enter the U.S. tariff-free for at least three years in exchange for the UK spending more on drugs. While not referenced in its announcement on pharma tariffs last week, it...

Hospital Competition/Pricing

There has been a gradual intensification of concerns/action around hospital pricing, which is manifesting at both the federal (FTC/DOJ, Congress) and state levels. In recent days, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced the creation of a new Healthcare Task Force, focused investigations and enforcement actions around competition and...

Energy, Infrastructure

Energy Infrastructure/Permitting Reform

Congressional permitting negotiations have again begun to pick up momentum, with concern about rising electricity costs related to data center usage serving as a new catalyst for action. Permitting reform is intended to facilitate more rapid build out of infrastructure in the oil/gas, renewables, and mining sectors, as well as the electricity...