Bills would eliminate revisit fees, keep marketbasket increase

Lawmakers passed an omnibus bill this week that would eliminate revisit user fees.

Prior to the passage of the bill (H.R. 2764), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services extended the revisit user fee into 2008. It expired on Dec. 14. Providers are against the revisit user fee system, which charges a fee to facilities that require a revisit survey as a result of deficiencies cited. The fees for skilled nursing facilities are $168 for an offsite revisit survey and $2,072 for an onsite revisit survey.

Meanwhile, Congress passed a Medicare bill that also offered some relief to providers. The bill would continue the exceptions process for therapy caps. It also would leaving funding for the 3.3% market basket increase alone. Unfortunately, the bill would freeze the 75% Rule, a therapy rule that ultimately benefits skilled nursing providers, at 60%.