House Democrats are demanding CMS reverse its policy to hold back hospitals' Medicare and Medicaid payments if they don't follow the agency's COVID-19 and influenza reporting requirements.
Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee Chair Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) sent a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar on Thursday, saying the "draconian penalties" would be unreasonable because the Trump administration significantly changed the reporting requirements during the pandemic. That made it more difficult for hospitals to follow the rules, he said.
"The action will potentially strip millions of Americans of healthcare since they receive inpatient and outpatient care at hospitals that accept Medicare and Medicaid," the letter said. "While we all want the most accurate and up-to-date coronavirus data, HHS is going about getting it in the wrong way. It is unacceptable to jeopardize Americans' healthcare during a pandemic."
CMS said Tuesday that approximately 6,000 hospitals taking part in Medicare and Medicaid would have 14 weeks to meet the agency's reporting requirements, including new influenza data. CMS will publicize each hospitals' reporting status beginning Oct. 21.
