Rehabilitation Innovation Centers

On January 5, 2023, the Dr. Joanne Smith Memorial Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2022 was signed into law.  This law established the Dr. Joanne Smith Memorial Rehabilitation Innovation Centers designation which recognizes rehabilitation facilities that lead the nation in medical research, complex treatment and that drive innovative research for the entire field of rehabilitation.  These rehabilitation centers care for patients with highly complex medical conditions, conduct multidisciplinary rehabilitation research and educate a high number of medical residents. 

About Dr. Joanne C. Smith

Joanne C. Smith. M.D. was a transformational and visionary health care leader.  Dr. Smith was committed to building a culture of hope and positivity, integrating scientific research, technology and superior clinical care.  Her passion and commitment to the field of rehabilitation sciences will be felt globally for many generations to come.  Before her death in 2021, Dr. Smith was the longtime president and CEO of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab rehabilitation research, formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Recipient Criteria and Selection

This Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to recognize rehabilitation innovation centers making publicly available a list of all rehabilitation innovation centers not less frequently than biennially. These Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs) must meet designation requirements set forth by congress in this Act, including:

• Be classified as an IRF under IRF PPS system
• Hold a federal rehabilitation research and training designation for Traumatic Brain Injury or Spinal Cord Injury from the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
• Submit a description of clinical research enterprise and summary of research activities
• Have a minimum Medicare estimated average weight per discharge of 1.20
• Have a minimum teaching status of 0.075 

In the vetting and selection of this inaugural list of Rehabilitation Innovation Centers, a workgroup was established including partners across the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Association of Community Living (ACL). Industry partners were also engaged to inform approach and timeline for implementation.