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Advising the Congress on Medicare issues
MedPAC > Recommendations

Commission Recommendations

MedPAC makes recommendations to the Congress and to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on issues affecting the administration of the Medicare program. With its recommendations, the Commission strives to improve the delivery of care, while ensuring financial stability and maximizing value for the program. After extensive analysis and evaluation, our recommendations are discussed and voted on by Commissioners in our public meetings. Recommendations are typically published in two main reports, released in March and June of each year.

Recommendations Topic(s) Publication

Streamlining CMS’s portfolio of alternative payment models

The Secretary should implement a more harmonized portfolio of fewer alternative payment models that are designed to work together to support the strategic objectives of reducing spending and improving quality

  • Delivery system reforms

June 2021 - Chapter 2

Ambulatory surgical center services (1)

For calendar year 2022, the Congress should eliminate the update to the 2021 Medicare conversion factor for ambulatory surgical centers.

  • Ambulatory care settings

March 2021 - Chapter 5

Ambulatory surgical center services (2)

The Secretary should require ambulatory surgical centers to report cost data.

  • Ambulatory care settings

March 2021 - Chapter 5

Home health care services

For calendar year 2022, the Congress should reduce the 2021 Medicare base payment rate for home health agencies by 5 percent.

  • Post-acute care

March 2021 - Chapter 8

Hospice services

For fiscal year 2022, the Congress should eliminate the update to the 2021 Medicare base payment rates for hospice and wage adjust and reduce the hospice aggregate cap by 20 percent.

  • Post-acute care

March 2021 - Chapter 11

Hospital inpatient and outpatient services

For fiscal year 2022, the Congress should update the 2021 Medicare base payment rates for acute care hospitals by 2 percent.

  • Hospital

March 2021 - Chapter 3

Inpatient rehabilitation facility services

For fiscal year 2022, the Congress should reduce the 2021 Medicare base payment rate for inpatient rehabilitation facilities by 5 percent.

  • Post-acute care

March 2021 - Chapter 9

Long-term care hospital services

For fiscal year 2022, the Secretary should increase the 2021 Medicare base payment rate for long-term care hospitals by 2 percent.

  • Post-acute care

March 2021 - Chapter 10

Outpatient dialysis services

For calendar year 2022, the Congress should eliminate the update to the 2021 Medicare end-stage renal disease prospective payment system base rate.

  • Ambulatory care settings

March 2021 - Chapter 6

Physician and other health professional services

For calendar year 2022, the Congress should update the 2021 Medicare payment rates for physician and other health professional services by the amounts determined under current law.

  • Physicians and other health professionals

March 2021 - Chapter 4