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2017 Pulse |
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CMS Issues FY 2018 SNF PPS Final Rule
On July 31, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) issued a final rule outlining Fiscal Year
(FY) 2018 Medicare payment rates and quality
programs for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). |
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CMS Releases Revised State Operations Manual, Appendix PP
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
released a new Survey & Certification memo on June 30,
2017, detailing revisions to the State Operations Manual
(SOM) Appendix PP for Phase 2, F-Tag revisions, and
related issues. The revisions will be effective on November
28, 2017. |
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Requirement to Reduce Legionella Risk in Healthcare Facility Water Systems
The bacterium Legionella can cause a serious type of
pneumonia called Legionnaires Disease (LD) in persons
at risk. Those at risk include persons who are at least 50
years old, smokers, or those with underlying medical
conditions such as chronic lung disease or
immunosuppression. |
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SNF Elements of Emergency Preparedness
On September 16, 2016, the final rule on Emergency
Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and
Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers was
published. |
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Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Data Submission Deadline
The IMPACT Act of 2014 mandated the establishment
of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting
Program (QRP). |
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SPECIAL EDITION: FY 2018 SNF PPS Proposed Rule
On April 27, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule outlining the
Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Medicare payment rates and
quality programs for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). |
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The Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes
On October 4, 2016, The Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) published a Final Rule to
revise Medicare and Medicaid participation
requirements for nursing facilities. The Final Rule
requires that facilities establish an Antibiotic
Stewardship Program as part of the Infection Prevention
and Control Program (IPCP) by November 28, 2017. |
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2017 Onsite HIPAA Audits
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) Privacy regulations require health care
providers and organizations, as well as their business
associates, develop and follow procedures that ensure
the confidentiality and security of protected health
information (PHI) when it is transferred, received,
handled, or shared. |
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OIG Issues Final Rule On Exclusion Authority
On January 11, 2017, the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG)
published its Final Rule establishing new standards for
excluding individuals and entities from participation in
federal health care programs. |
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2016 Pulse |
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CY 2017 New Therapy Evaluation Codes
For CY 2017, the Physician Fee Schedule final rule
includes a new 3- tiered current procedural terminology
(CPT) code system to replace the current single code that
covered all therapist evaluations. |
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Office of Inspector General Publishes FY 2017 OIG Work Plan
The office of Inspector General (OIG) Work Plan for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2017 provides brief descriptions of activities that
the OIG plans to initiate or continue in FY 2017. |
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CMS Publishes Reform of Requirements for
Long-Term Care Facilities Final Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
released the final rule “Medicare and Medicaid
Programs; Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care
Facilities” on September 28, 2016. |
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CMS Establishes Emergency Preparedness Requirements for
Healthcare Providers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) finalized a rule to establish consistent
emergency preparedness requirements for health
care providers participating in Medicare and
Medicaid, increase patient safety during
emergencies, and establish a more coordinated
response to natural and man-made disasters. |
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CMS Releases Final MDS 3.0 RAI Manual Update
On August 26, 2016 the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final
revisions to the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.14
effective October 1, 2016. |
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CMS Issues FY 2017 SNF PPS Final Rule
On July 29, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) issued the SNF PPS final rule outlining
fiscal year (FY) 2017 Medicare payment policies and
rates for the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective
Payment System (SNF PPS), the SNF Quality
Reporting Program (SNF QRP), and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program. |
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New Quality Measures Impact Five-Star Quality Ratings System
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
announced that five of the six new quality measures for
skilled nursing facilities will be phased into the Five-Star Quality Ratings system on July 27, 2016. |
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OIG FY 2016 Mid-Year Work Plan
The U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG)
Published the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Mid-Year
Work Plan Update, summarizing new and ongoing
reviews and activities that OIG plans to pursue with
respect to HHS programs and operations during the
current fiscal year and beyond. |
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CMS Publishes Draft MDS 3.0 RAI Manual
CMS released a draft copy of the Minimum Data Set (MDS)
3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.14, which details the requirements
for the upcoming October 1, 2016, changes to the MDS. |
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Fiscal Year 2017 SNF PPS Proposed Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
released the Skilled Nursing Facilities proposed rule on
April 21, 2016, which outlines Medicare payment rates
and policy changes for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. CMS
proposes a positive payment update of 2.1% for skilled
nursing facilities (SNFs). |
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New Quality Measures Coming to Nursing Home Compare, Five-Star Rating
New quality measures for skilled nursing facilities
will be introduced in April 2016 the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials
announced during an Open Door Forum on March
3, 2016. |
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CMS Increases Site Visits to Medicare Providers
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided tools to
enhance the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services’ (CMS) ability to screen providers and
suppliers upon enrollment and identify those that
may be at risk for committing fraud, including the
use of risk-based screening of providers and
suppliers. |
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CMS Launches Infection Control Pilot Program
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) has begun a three-year pilot project to
improve infection control and prevention
assessments for nursing homes, hospitals and care
transitions between the two. |