Press Releases

STATEMENT OF MARK B. MCCLELLAN, M.D., PH.D., ADMINISTRATOR, CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES

This interim report to Congress describes the steps the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is taking to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries continue to have access to high quality medical care in the most appropriate setting, which may include treatment in a specialty hospital.  CMS’s initial research has found that many specialty hospitals provide efficient and high quality services.  At the same time, there are real concerns about whether payments in excess of costs inappropriately influence investments and care in these hospitals.  In addition, there have been concerns about whether specialty hospitals carry their fair share of responsibility for providing emergency and charity care in their communities.

This report sets out the steps we are taking to get more accurate information about the role specialty hospitals play in health care delivery, and the steps we are taking to promote effective care in specialty hospitals.  It is a reflection of CMS’s broader goal for all care for Medicare beneficiaries – high quality and low costs with transparency of information to enable beneficiaries to make the best choices about their health care.