The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has updated its excellent series of reader-friendly primers on Medicare payment methodologies for hospitals, physicians, Medicare Advantage plans, prescription drug plans, and other health care providers. MedPAC is an advisory agency to Congress and is highly influential, particlarly on payment methods, delivery systems, and Medicare reforms.

Medicare Part A Reimbursement of Hospitals:

• Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment system (IPPS) for acute care hospitals
• Critical Access Hospital payment system
• Psychiatric hospital services payment system
• Hospice services payment system

Medcare Part A Reimbursement of Post-Acute Providers:

• Home health agency (HHA) services payment system
• Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) services payment system
• Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRF) payment system
• Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCH) payment system

Medicare Part B for Physician Services, Other Outpatient Services, Medical Equipment, ad Supplies:

• Physician services payment system
• Outpatient hospital services payment system
• Clinical laboratory services payment system
• Ambulatory surgical centers payment system
• Durable medical equipment payment system
• Outpatient dialysis services payment system (ESRD facilities)
• Outpatient therapy services payment system
• Oxygen and oxygen equipment payment system

Medicare Payment of Health Plans and Drug Plans:

• Medicare Advantage plan payment system (Medicare Part C)
• Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PPDs and MA-PDs)