Hospital Outcomes Act of 2016

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to create incentives for healthcare providers to promote quality healthcare outcomes, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; findings (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Hospital Outcomes Act of 2016 (b) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Payment penalties for hospital acquired conditions under section 1886(p) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 3008 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, are based on a limited number of hospital acquired conditions but are applied to all Medicare inpatient prospective payments to a hospital (as defined in section 1886(d) of the Social Security Act), resulting in payment penalties that are not proportional to the financial impact of the hospital acquired conditions. The method of risk adjustment used to determine the hospital acquired conditions performance of hospitals does not adequately account for the chronic illness burden and severity of illness of Medicare beneficiaries. (2) Payment penalties for hospital readmissions under section 1886(q) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 3025 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, are based on a limited number of clinical conditions, including readmissions that are not related to the prior discharge and are not proportional to the overall financial impact of the readmission performance of the hospital. The method of risk adjustment used to determine the readmission performance of hospitals does not adequately account for the chronic illness burden and severity of illness of Medicare beneficiaries. (3) The payment penalties for hospital acquired conditions and readmission should be restructured to be based on a comprehensive and clinically credible definition of potentially-avoidable complications and potentially-avoidable readmissions, be based on the risk adjusted rate of occurrence potentially-avoidable complications and potentially-avoidable readmissions and include both payment penalties and bonuses that are proportional to the actual financial impact of potentially-avoidable complications and potentially-avoidable readmissions. (4) The existing methods of risk adjustment used to determine the quality of care performance of hospitals should be restructured and replaced by a methodology that is composed of exhaustive and mutually exclusive risk categories that are clinically credible and explicitly recognize the severity of illness and chronic illness burden of Medicare beneficiaries, thereby accounting for patient characteristics that may impact access to care. 2. Hospital outcomes (a) Payment adjustments for hospital outcomes Section 1886 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww (t) Hospital outcomes (1) In general In the case of an applicable hospital for an applicable prospective period beginning on or after October 1, 2017— (A) for each discharge of such hospital occurring during such period, in addition to and after application of any increase under paragraph (6) of subsection (o) and any adjustment under paragraph (7) of such subsection to the base operating DRG payment amount (as defined in paragraph (7)(D) of such subsection) that would otherwise apply to such hospital during such period without application of this subsection, such operating DRG payment amount shall be adjusted by the potentially-avoidable outcome adjustment factor described in paragraph (2) for the hospital for such period; and (B) the potentially-avoidable outcome adjustment factor shall apply only with respect to the applicable prospective period, and the Secretary shall not take into account such adjustment factor in making payments to hospitals under this section in a subsequent applicable prospective period. (2) Potentially-avoidable outcome adjustment factor (A) In general For purposes of paragraph (1), the potentially-avoidable outcome adjustment factor described in this paragraph for an applicable hospital for an applicable prospective period, subject to subparagraph (B), is equal to 1.0 minus the potentially-avoidable outcome performance fraction determined under paragraph (3) for the hospital and period. (B) Hospital-specific cap and floor In no circumstance may the potentially-avoidable outcome adjustment factor for an applicable hospital for an applicable prospective period under subparagraph (A) be— (i) for applicable prospective periods occurring in fiscal years 2018 through 2020, less than 0.97 or more than 1.03; and (ii) for applicable prospective periods occurring in or after fiscal year 2021, less than 0.95 or more than 1.05. (3) Determination of potentially-avoidable outcome performance fraction (A) In general The potentially-avoidable outcome performance fraction for an applicable hospital for an applicable prospective period, subject to subparagraph (C), is equal to the ratio of— (i) the total hospital-specific financial impact, as described in subparagraph (B), for the hospital and data collection period with respect to such applicable prospective period; to (ii) the aggregate amount of standardized payments (as defined in paragraph (4)(G)(ii)) made to the hospital during the data collection period with respect to such applicable prospective period. (B) Total hospital-specific financial impact described For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term total hospital-specific financial impact (i) The financial impact determined in accordance with paragraph (4)(F) for such hospital and data collection period with respect to the performance category described in paragraph (5)(A) (relating to complications). (ii) The financial impact determined in accordance with subsection (4)(F) for such hospital and data collection period with respect to the performance category described in paragraph (5)(B) (relating to readmissions). (C) Budget neutrality of potentially-avoidable outcome adjustment factor across all hospitals The Secretary shall determine a budget neutrality rate reduction fraction that, when applied in paragraph (4)(B)(ii), will result in a potentially-avoidable outcome factor determined under subparagraph (A) for an applicable prospective period that reduces the total payments under subsection (d) across all applicable hospitals and all potentially-avoidable outcomes for such period by an amount equal to the reduction in payments under such subsection for such period that would have resulted from the application of subsections (p) and (q) if the amendments made by the Hospital Outcomes Act of 2016 had not applied. (4) Process of determination of potentially-avoidable outcomes performance; financial impact For purposes of paragraph (3), the Secretary shall, for each performance category described in paragraph (5) and each data collection period that is with respect to an applicable prospective period beginning on or after October 1, 2017, determine each of the following: (A) Nationwide-average rates With respect to each risk category specified under paragraph (6)(B), the ratio of— (i) the number of discharges occurring among all applicable hospitals during such applicable data collection period that are with respect to such risk category and that involve the potentially-avoidable outcomes in such performance category; to (ii) the number of applicable discharges among all applicable hospitals for such applicable data collection period and risk category. (B) Nationwide target rates With respect to each risk category specified under paragraph (6)(B), the product of— (i) subject to subparagraph (H), the ratio determined under subparagraph (A) for such period and risk category; and (ii) the budget neutrality rate reduction fraction determined under paragraph (3)(C) for such period. (C) Hospital-specific actual number With respect to each applicable hospital and each such risk category, the number of discharges occurring with respect to such hospital during such applicable data collection period that involve the potentially-avoidable outcomes in such performance category. (D) Hospital-specific expected number With respect to each applicable hospital, each applicable data collection period, and each such risk category, the number that is the product of— (i) subject to subparagraph (H), the ratio determined under subparagraph (B) for such period and risk category; and (ii) the number of applicable discharges of the hospital for such period and risk category. (E) Hospital-specific potentially-avoidable outcome performance With respect to each applicable hospital and applicable data collection period, the difference between— (i) the sum of the numbers determined under subparagraph (C) for the hospital for such period for all risk categories; and (ii) the sum of the numbers determined under subparagraph (D) for the hospital for such period for all risk categories. (F) Financial impact (i) With respect to each applicable hospital and applicable data collection period, the financial impact attributable to potentially-avoidable outcomes performance within such performance category, determined as the product of the following: (I) the difference calculated under subparagraph (E) for such hospital and period; and (II) the financial conversion factor determined in accordance with clause (ii) for the performance category. (ii) Financial conversion factors For purposes of clause (i), the Secretary shall determine a financial conversion factor for the performance category that— (I) in the case of the performance category described in paragraph (5)(A), is, with respect to inpatient hospital services that are furnished with respect to a discharge, equal to the average amount of increase in the standardized payments for such inpatient hospital services for such discharge that is attributable to the potentially-avoidable complication; and (II) in the case of the performance category described in paragraph (5)(B), is, with respect to an initial discharge, equal to the average standardized payment for inpatient hospital services that are furnished with respect to a potentially-avoidable readmission following the initial discharge. (G) Definitions For purposes of this section: (i) Potentially-avoidable outcomes The term potentially-avoidable outcomes (I) a potentially-avoidable complication within the category described in paragraph (5)(A); and (II) a potentially-avoidable readmission within the category described in paragraph (5)(B). (ii) Standardized payments The term standardized payment (iii) Applicable discharges With respect to an applicable data collection period and risk category, the term applicable discharges (I) the performance category described in paragraph (5)(A), discharges occurring during such applicable data collection period that are with respect to such risk category; and (II) the performance category described in paragraph (5)(B), discharges occurring during such applicable data collection period that are with respect to such risk category and that are not identified as potentially-avoidable readmissions under the methodology selected under paragraph (6)(A). (H) Exception to use of nationwide-average rates In the case that the methodology selected under paragraph (6)(B) for such performance category does not meet the criteria described in clause (iii) of such paragraph, the Secretary shall— (i) develop groups of hospitals based on the overall proportion of inpatients in such hospitals who are full-benefit dual eligible individuals (as defined in section 1935(c)(6)); (ii) compute, with respect to each such group and each risk category specified under paragraph (6)(B)— (I) the number of discharges occurring among all applicable hospitals in such group during such applicable data collection period that are with respect to such risk category and that involve the potentially-avoidable outcomes in such performance category; to (II) the number of applicable discharges occurring among all applicable hospitals in such group for such applicable data collection period and risk category; and (iii) treat each reference in this paragraph to the ratio determined under subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable, for a period and risk category as a reference to the ratio determined under subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable, for a group, period, and risk category. (5) Performance categories described The performance categories described in this paragraph are the following categories: (A) Potentially-avoidable complications The category of complications (referred to in this section as potentially-avoidable complications (i) The complication occurs during the stay of the individual and was not present at the time of the admission of such individual to such hospital as an inpatient. (ii) The complication is a harmful event (such as a surgical complication) or an acute illness (such as an infection or an acute exacerbation of underlying chronic disease). (iii) The complication is potentially avoidable with adequate care and treatment. (iv) The complication is not a natural progression of the underlying illnesses of the individual that are present on admission of such individual to such hospital. (v) The complication may be reasonably construed as related to the care rendered during the stay of the individual at the hospital. (B) Potentially-avoidable readmissions (i) In general The category of readmissions (referred to in this section as potentially-avoidable readmissions initial discharge (I) The readmission of the individual could reasonably have been prevented by— (aa) the provision of appropriate care during the episode of care ending in such initial discharge that was consistent with accepted standards; (bb) adequate discharge planning with respect to such initial discharge; (cc) adequate post-discharge follow-up with respect to such initial discharge; or (dd) improved coordination between the providers furnishing the inpatient or outpatient hospital services during the episode of care ending in such initial discharge and the providers furnishing care during the post-discharge period with respect to such initial discharge. (II) The readmission is for a condition or procedure related to the episode of care ending in such initial discharge, including a readmission for a condition or procedure that is any of the following: (aa) The same (or a closely related) condition or procedure as the condition addressed in, or the procedure provided during the episode of care ending in such initial discharge. (bb) An infection or other complication of care provided during the episode of care ending in such initial discharge. (cc) A condition or procedure indicative of a failed procedure provided during the episode of care ending in such initial discharge. (dd) An acute decompensation of a coexisting chronic disease that was precipitated by the care furnished during the episode of care ending in such initial discharge. (III) The readmission is not a documented readmission with respect to a documented discharge that was initiated by the individual contrary to medical advice provided to such individual during the episode of care with respect to such initial discharge. (IV) The readmission could not reasonably be considered a planned readmission. (V) The readmission occurs during the 30-day period following an inpatient discharge of such an individual from the applicable hospital with respect to such initial discharge. (VI) The readmission was not due to a traumatic injury that occurred after the episode of care ending in such initial discharge. (VII) The readmission does not fall under such other exclusions as the Secretary determines appropriate. (ii) Definitions For purposes of this subsection: (I) Readmission The term readmission (II) Documented The term documented (6) Selection of methods for identifying potentially-avoidable outcomes and method of risk adjustment (A) Methods for identifying potentially-avoidable outcomes The Secretary shall select a methodology for identifying potentially-avoidable complications and a methodology for identifying potentially-avoidable readmissions, and shall specify the circumstances under which such complications and such readmissions would be considered potentially-avoidable. Each such methodology shall meet the following criteria: (i) The methodology shall provide— (I) in the case of potentially-avoidable complications, a comprehensive identification of all conditions that could reasonably be considered a complication of care that meets the requirements under paragraph (5)(A) to be included as a potentially-avoidable complication; and (II) in the case of potentially-avoidable readmissions, a comprehensive identification of all initial discharges described in paragraph (5)(B) and corresponding readmissions described in such paragraph that each meet the requirements for such readmission to be included as a potentially-avoidable readmission. (ii) To the extent possible, the methodology shall be a methodology that has been successfully implemented for the purpose of adjusting payments to hospitals by a State plan under title XIX or by a major commercial payer or be a methodology that has been certified by an entity with a contract under section 1890(a). (iii) The methodology shall be open, transparent, and available for review and comment by the public. (iv) The Secretary may select proprietary methodologies that meet the criteria in clauses (i) through (iii). (B) Selection criteria for method of risk adjustment For purposes of paragraph (4), the Secretary shall, with respect to each category described in a subparagraph of paragraph (5), select a methodology for specifying risk categories and for assigning individuals entitled to benefits under part A to such categories, and shall so specify such risk categories and so assign such individuals to such categories. Each such methodology shall meet the following criteria: (i) The methodology shall result in an exhaustive and mutually exclusive list of risk categories. (ii) The methodology shall be clinically credible and explicitly account for the severity of illness, chronic illness burden, and extensive comorbid diseases and high severity of illness of patients. (iii) The methodology shall account for patient characteristics that may impact access to care. (iv) The methodology shall assign a risk category to an individual based on the condition of the individual at the time of— (I) in the case of potentially-avoidable complications, hospital admission; and (II) in the case of potentially-avoidable readmissions, hospital discharge with respect to the initial discharge. (v) To the extent possible, the methodology shall be a methodology that has been successfully implemented for the purpose of adjusting payments to hospitals by a State plan under title XIX or by a major commercial payer or be a methodology that has been certified by an entity with a contract under section 1890(a). (vi) The methodology shall be open, transparent, and available for review and comment by the public. (vii) The Secretary may select proprietary methodologies that meet the criteria in clauses (i) through (vi). (C) Publication of specifications Not later than 15 days prior to each applicable prospective year, the Secretary shall make available, such as by publicly posting on the Internet Web site of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services the annual updates to each methodology selected under a subparagraph of this paragraph. (7) Reporting by Secretary (A) Reports to hospitals For each data collection period that is with respect to an applicable prospective period beginning on or after October 1, 2017, the Secretary shall provide to each applicable hospital, not later than the first day of such applicable prospective period, a confidential report with respect to the potentially-avoidable outcomes of such hospital during such data collection period. (B) Reports to public For each data collection period that is with respect to an applicable prospective period described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, not later than 90 days after the first day of such applicable prospective period, make available to the public (including by posting on the Hospital Compare Web site) in an easily understandable format information regarding the performance of each applicable hospital during such data collection period with respect to potentially-avoidable outcomes. (8) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Applicable hospital The term applicable hospital (B) Data collection period The term data collection period (C) Applicable prospective period The term applicable prospective period (9) Limitation on judicial review There shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1869, section 1878, or otherwise of a potentially-avoidable outcome adjustment factor applied under this section. . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Relationship to existing payments Section 1886(o) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(o) (A) in paragraph (6)(A), by inserting and before application of subsection (t) (7)(B)(i) (B) in paragraph (7)(B)(i), by inserting , before application of subsection (t), The Secretary shall (2) Sunsetting existing adjustment for complications Section 1886(p) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(p) (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting (before fiscal year 2018) a subsequent fiscal year (B) in paragraph (5), by inserting (before fiscal year 2018) each subsequent fiscal year (3) Sunsetting existing adjustment for readmissions Section 1886(q) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(q) (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting and ending before October 1, 2017 October 1, 2012, (B) in paragraph (3)(C)(iii), by inserting before fiscal year 2018 and subsequent fiscal years (C) in paragraph (5)(B), by inserting and ending with fiscal year 2017 fiscal year 2015

Summary: Hospital Outcomes Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to replace the existing methodology for calculating Medicare payment adjustments for subsection (d) hospitals based on outcomes in readmissions and complications with a new methodology based on potentially avoidable outcomes in those areas. (In general, a "subsection (d) hospital" is an acute care hospital that receives payments under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system.) The bill: (1) establishes a methodology for determining a hospital's financial impact attributable to potentially avoidable outcomes performance with regard to complications and readmissions, and (2) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to select methodologies for identifying potentially avoidable outcomes in these categories. Subject to both a ceiling and a floor, a hospital's payment adjustment factor for an applicable prospective period shall be based on the ratio of the hospital's financial impact to the aggregate amount of standardized payments made to the hospital with respect to that period. CMS must ensure budget neutrality with respect to application of the payment adjustment factor across all subsection (d) hospitals. CMS shall regularly report to hospitals and to the public on each hospital's performance with regard to potentially avoidable outcomes.