“Most of the details the hospital field needs to fully and properly evaluate this concept are not presented in the report,” AHA said in a letter to CMS. “Chief among these gaps is a full data analysis that shows the manner and extent to which hospital wage indices would change under this concept.”
AHA also wanted a full analysis of potential volatility in wage indices from year-to-year; use of a wage index exception process; hold-harmless or transitional provisions; consistent definitions, methodologies, rules and interpretations for acquisition and application of wage data; and transparency so that hospitals could examine and verify data used.
Read the AHA News Now report on the CMS wage index proposal.
Read the AHA letter to CMS (pdf).
Read more coverage of hospital wages:
– Hospital Costs Declining as Part of Total Cost of Care
– Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant Salaries Highest in Western U.S.
– 5 of the Biggest Hospital Employment Trends in 2010
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