CMS has sent several major proposed Medicare 2018 payment rules to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for regulatory clearance before publication in the Federal Register. OMB has already cleared the proposed fiscal year (FY) 2018 acute inpatient prospective payment system/long-term care hospital prospective payment system (PPS) rule; it could be released at any time.  Other proposed FY 2018 Medicare updates pending at OMB include the skilled nursing facility PPS, the inpatient rehabilitation facility PPS, and hospice rate rules.

Also, CMS has gotten an early start on the calendar year (CY) 2018 rules, with the proposed updates for outpatient hospital departments/ambulatory surgical centers, home health agencies, end-stage renal disease providers, and suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies all pending at OMB.