For the past several years, hospitals nationwide have been becoming familiar with inpatient quality measures. These measures help determine which facilities demonstrate a commitment to improving and standardizing patient care for conditions such as acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, pneumonia, and postoperative infections.
To receive full payment under the IPPS in 2008, hospitals must participate in the Reporting Hospital Quality Data for the Annual Payment Update (RHQDAPU) program. CMS will now reduce the payment to hospitals paid under IPPS by 2% each fiscal year (FY) if they don't submit specific quality data.
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