The elimination of the Inpatient-Only (IPO) list could have major implications for hospitals, affecting revenue, compliance, and care delivery models. As it did in 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is again proposing to eliminate the IPO list. This change will require hospitals to make significant efforts to justify inpatient admissions for procedures previously included on the list. Determining the correct admission status is challenging under normal circumstances, but with the removal of the list, hospitals will need to develop processes to ensure accurate status determinations for every surgery – essential for proper reimbursement and protecting patients’ rights.

In this RACmonitor webcast, Dr. Ronald Hirsch will provide the answers your hospital needs to prepare for this major regulatory shift. He will offer guidance on assessing proper admission status, explain how the elimination of the list will affect beneficiaries, and share strategies for addressing status determinations with Medicare Advantage plans. You’ll also gain an understanding of the potential effects on non-Medicare payors.

In short, you’ll leave this session equipped to navigate the elimination of the IPO list with confidence.

Why This Is Relevant:

The proposed elimination of the Inpatient-Only list represents a fundamental shift in how hospitals determine and defend admission status. This isn’t just a Medicare issue — it impacts compliance workflows, revenue integrity, and patient care planning across all payors. Hospitals that fail to adapt could face increased claim denials, compliance risks, and financial losses. Now is the time for providers to understand the implications and prepare strategies to navigate these changes effectively.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the CMS process for eliminating procedures from the IPO list
• Apply guidelines for accurately assessing and documenting proper admission status
• Explain the effects of IPO list elimination on Medicare beneficiaries
• Identify effective tactics for addressing admission status determinations with Medicare Advantage plans
• Assess the potential effects of IPO list elimination on non-Medicare payors

Who Should Attend:

Those who will benefit most from this webcast include those in utilization review, revenue cycle, revenue integrity, case management and compliance, as well as chief financial officers, physicians and physician advisors, and billing and coding professionals.