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The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission this week discussed several draft recommendations for Congress, which the panel would vote on in January. The proposals would increase payment rates for 2023 hospital inpatient and outpatient services by the amount specified in current law, currently estimated at 2.5% for inpatient and 2.0% for outpatient. The proposals would also reduce payment rates for skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities and home health agencies by 5% in 2023. In addition, the draft recommendations would eliminate the ambulatory surgical center conversion factor update for 2023 and require ASCs to report cost data. Finally, the proposals would update payment rates for long-term care hospitals and physicians and other health professional services by the amount specified in current law.