The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday issued a proposed rule updating inpatient rehabilitation facility payment rates for fiscal year 2010. The proposed rule recommends a market basket update of 2.4% as well as raising the IRF outlier threshold to $9,976, which would increase IRF payments by $150 million from 2009 levels. In addition, CMS proposes to begin including Medicare Advantage patients in its assessment of compliance with the "60% Rule," which would require IRFs to assess this additional group of patients. CMS also issued, in a separate document, draft revisions to the IRF criteria in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, and will accept comments on those revisions via e-mail at MBPMComments@cms.hhs.gov. Comments on the proposed rule and IRF criteria will be accepted through June 29. A final rule will be issued by Aug. 1, with provisions that take effect Oct. 1.