New Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program: What does it mean for my SNF?

As part of the new HAC Reduction program, beginning in FY 2015 hospitals that rank in the lowest quartile for medical errors or serious infections, that patients contract while in the hospital, will be paid 99 percent of what they otherwise would have been paid under the IPPS. This rule finalizes the criteria to rank hospitals with a high rate of hospital-acquired conditions.

If past trends continue,  we can expect some hospitals to choose not to bill Medicare or anyone else when one of these conditions presents itself.  Unfortunately, when they don't bill Medicare, there is no qualifying stay, so there is no SNF benefit available.