Towards the Next Medical Fee Revision in FY2028, Investigations into Acute Care A/B, Consolidation of Surgical Care, and Flexible Staffing Will Proceed—Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Care Subcommittee – GemMed

News Highlights

Towards the next medical fee revision in FY2028, the Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Care Subcommittee will advance investigations into revising the A and B classifications for acute care beds, consolidating surgical medical care, and enabling more flexible staffing for nurses and other personnel. These initiatives are expected to aim for the efficient utilization of medical resources and the restructuring of the regional medical care provision system. Medical institutions will need to consider their mid-to-long-term management and business succession strategies in light of these revision trends.

M&A Medical Editorial Department’s Perspective

The investigation items for this medical fee revision are highly likely to directly impact the management structure of medical institutions. In particular, the “revision of Acute Care A/B classifications” and the “consolidation of surgical care” could significantly alter the revenue structure of hospitals with specific departments or functions. For example, medical institutions handling advanced surgical procedures may be compelled to strengthen collaborations or undergo reorganizations due to the trend towards consolidation. Furthermore, “flexible staffing” could serve as an incentive for each medical institution to advance its own work style reforms amidst the deepening shortage of doctors and nurses. However, the scope of flexible staffing may be strictly defined to ensure the maintenance and improvement of medical quality. These trends will further increase the necessity for M&A and business succession, such as group reorganizations pursuing economies of scale and the redefinition of regional medical function allocation. Particularly for small to medium-sized hospitals responsible for regional medical care, scenarios where independent survival becomes difficult are conceivable, making early countermeasures essential.

Points Raised by This News

• The revision of Acute Care Bed classifications A and B directly impacts hospital function evaluation and revenue.
• The consolidation of surgical care may promote collaboration and reorganization among highly specialized medical institutions.
• Flexible staffing will support work style reforms tailored to each medical institution, while quality assurance will be a key focus.
• Early review of management and business succession strategies for medical institutions, looking ahead to the FY2028 revision, is crucial.

Practical Questions Arising from This News

• How will our hospital’s acute care bed classification be affected by this revision?
• If the consolidation of surgical departments progresses, how will our hospital’s strengths and revenue change?
• What specific system changes are envisioned for flexible staffing?

If You Feel “Should I Consult Too?”

The FY2028 medical fee revision may bring significant changes to the nature of acute care and staffing. In particular, the consolidation of surgical care could serve as an opportunity to redefine the roles of medical institutions within a region. If you have questions about how your institution’s functions and revenue structure might be affected by these changes, or whether M&A should be considered as a future option for business continuity or succession, please consult with an expert.

M&A Medical (CentralMedience Inc.) supports the business succession of medical corporations, hospitals, and clinics on a full success fee basis as a certified M&A support institution by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency. Consultations are accepted with strict confidentiality. Free consultations are available here.