CMS Issues Second IRF Review Choice Demo Notice

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a second Information Collection Request (ICR) notice in the September 8, 2021 Federal Register related to the proposed inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) Review Choice Demonstration. Similar to the original notice, CMS proposes that IRFs in certain states would be subjected to 100 percent pre- or post-claim review for Medicare Part A fee-for-service payments until the IRF meets the target affirmation or claim approval rate. The demonstration is set to begin in Alabama, followed by California, Texas and Pennsylvania. In conjunction with this notice, there is additional information that includes limited revisions from the initial December 2020 proposal, including expanding the language from “trained nurse reviewers” to instead include registered nurses, therapists, or physician reviewers and the elimination of some documentation requirements that were listed in the initial proposal.

Individuals are invited to submit comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency’s functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden. Comments must be submitted by October 8, 2021.