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Maryland Health Officials Seeking Public Input On Medicare Agreement

By: Associated Press
September 29, 2013
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Health officials in Maryland are asking for the public's comments on a new plan that would affect how hospital costs are paid under Maryland's unique Medicare waiver agreement.

The state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene says it wants to switch from a system in which hospital payments are based on Medicare payment per admission to a system that rewards hospitals when care is high quality and fewer admissions are needed.

Maryland is the only state to have the Medicare waiver agreement, which has been in place since the late 1970s. It allows Medicare reimbursement rates to providers be based on those set by a state commission, instead of national federal payment principals.

Public comments to the online proposal will be accepted thru next Monday, Oct. 7.

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