House Ways and Committee Chairman Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI)

Skilled nursing operators often want the same treatment as hospitals. They might get their wish soon, though not necessarily in the way they hoped.

Newly proposed draft legislation in the U.S. House would create SNF readmission penalties, much like those already in place for underperforming hospitals. It also would decrease annual SNF Medicare pay rate bumps and introduce new post-acute care payment systems.

Proposals from the 2014 White House budget are the basis for the Aug. 2 draft out of the House Ways and Means Committee. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission also has proposed curtailing SNF market basket updates.

Other proposals include creating site-neutral payments between inpatient rehabilitation facilities and SNFs for some procedures. Comments were being accepted through the end of August.