Executive Briefing Friday, September 12th, 2025

 

Global and Health Sector Headlines

1. CMS finalized the FY 2026 IPPS/LTCH PPS rule, updating payment rates and modifying Hospital IQR measures, with details on quality measure changes and implementation timelines. — https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/fy-2026-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-system-ipps-and-long-term-care-hospital-prospective-0 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Health Policy and Industry Updates

1. CMS issued the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule (CMS-1832-P), with comment period closing today (Sept 12, 2025) and notable updates to conversion factors, GPCIs, malpractice RVUs, and QPP policies. — https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/physician/federal-regulation-notices/cms-1832-p Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

2. CMS fact sheet highlights key PFS proposals including the qualifying APM and non-APM conversion factors and other Part B policy changes. — https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/calendar-year-cy-2026-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-pfs-proposed-rule-cms-1832-p Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Early Morning Briefing Highlights

1. Kaufman Hall’s latest National Hospital Flash Report (July 2025 data, published Sept 8) shows performance softening as non-labor expenses outpace revenue, pressuring margins nationally. — https://www.kaufmanhall.com/insights/research-report/national-hospital-flash-report-july-2025-data Kaufman Hall

Strategic Implications for Leadership

1. ACEP reports continued federal and state momentum to address ED boarding, including bipartisan legislation aimed at capacity tracking and transparency to reduce delays. — https://www.acep.org/news/acep-newsroom-articles/acep-advocacy-leads-to-new-boarding-legislation ACEP

2. Peer-reviewed work shows early-day discharge initiatives (frontline-focused interventions) can increase discharges before noon and improve throughput without harming satisfaction. — https://www.jointcommissionjournal.com/article/S1553-7250%2824%2900298-8/fulltext Joint Commission Journal

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Quality Metrics to Share with Your Team

1. PFS comment deadline: Sept 12, 2025 (today) — https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/physician Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

2. IPPS 2026: final rule issued July 31, 2025 — https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/fy-2026-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-system-ipps-and-long-term-care-hospital-prospective-0 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

3. IRF PPS 2026: payment rate update +2.6% — https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/fy-2026-inpatient-rehabilitation-facilities-prospective-payment-system-final-rule-cms-1829-f Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

4. Kaufman Hall: expense growth currently outpacing revenue growth (July 2025 data) — https://www.kaufmanhall.com/insights/research-report/national-hospital-flash-report-july-2025-data Kaufman Hall

5. Discharge-before-noon interventions: early-morning discharge feasible and sustainable — https://www.jointcommissionjournal.com/article/S1553-7250%2824%2900298-8/fulltext Joint Commission Journal

6. ED boarding reform momentum: bipartisan bill activity highlighted by ACEP — https://www.acep.org/news/acep-newsroom-articles/acep-advocacy-leads-to-new-boarding-legislation ACEP

7. IPPS resource hub for finalized materials and files — https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/acute-inpatient-pps/fy-2026-ipps-final-rule-home-page Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

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Leadership Call to Action

1. Submit final PFS comments today (if applicable) and prepare scenario impacts for CY 2026 conversion factor and QPP adjustments. — https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/physician/federal-regulation-notices/cms-1832-p Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

2. Translate IPPS 2026 quality-measure changes into your FY 2026 IQR workplan (data capture, analytics, and reporting cadence). — https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/fy-2026-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-system-ipps-and-long-term-care-hospital-prospective-0 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

3. Tighten non-labor expense controls while advancing outpatient growth plays to offset softening margins flagged by Kaufman Hall. — https://www.kaufmanhall.com/insights/research-report/national-hospital-flash-report-july-2025-data Kaufman Hall

4. Stand up an early-discharge program (before-noon targets, bedside rounding, early order entry, transport phasing) and track order-to-departure intervals. — https://www.jointcommissionjournal.com/article/S1553-7250%2824%2900298-8/fulltext Joint Commission Journal

5. Engage in ED-boarding policy efforts (state or federal) and implement internal capacity dashboards to reduce holds and LOS. — https://www.acep.org/news/acep-newsroom-articles/acep-advocacy-leads-to-new-boarding-legislation ACEP

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