April 13, 2026- A group of hospital stakeholders, including the American Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, National Association of Long Term Hospitals and Coalition of Long-Term Acute-Care Hospitals, announced the release of Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTCH) Reform Policy Principles. The principles are designed to guide and inform Congress as momentum builds to provide relief to LTCHs and the patients they serve. As longer-term reforms are developed, the groups urge Congress to act swiftly to enact legislation that stabilizes the LTCH sector. Without timely action, additional LTCHs are likely to close, further limiting access to the specialized care that LTCHs provide to chronically and critically ill patients.
LTCHs play a unique role in the care continuum by providing care for the most severely ill Medicare patients who require extended hospitalization. These specialized hospitals offer a uniquely intensive level of care that is not generally available in other post-acute care settings. However, the current policy environment presents challenges to patients trying to access care and negatively impacts the financial stability of the nation’s LTCHs.
The comprehensive set of policy principles address current challenges and offer sustainable solutions to protect and strengthen the delivery of care in the LTCH sector, including:
- Ensure access for certain high-acuity beneficiaries by expanding payment criteria
- Improve accuracy of the LTCH Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS)
- Consider changing the 25-day average length of stay (ALOS) requirement
- Restructure the LTCH outlier system
- Expand rural access to LTCHs
- Rein in harmful Medicare Advantage (MA) practices
Read the full set of policy principles.
Continue Reading: https://www.aha.org/press-releases/2026-04-13-hospital-stakeholders-release-long-term-acute-care-hospital-reform-policy-principles