The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued on Friday, April 27, 2018 its proposed federal fiscal year 2019 (FFY 2019) Medicare SNF PPS rule and Pre-Rule on Possible New Payment System. AHCA has created a summary document with a highlights section and preliminary overview of the payment updates, the SNF value-based purchasing (VBP) program proposed new components, the IMPACT Act quality reporting additions, and an overview of the payment reform discussion. Highlights of CMS’s proposed actions include: Market

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is continuing to offer a free monthly webinar series called “Bug of the Month,” which will feature Healthcare Associated Infection/Antibiotic Resistant pathogens of concern. The next webinar is "Super Bugs, Super Strategies: Where are we with CRE?" scheduled for Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 12:00-1:00 pm. Click here to register.

Fourth quarter FY 2017 Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports (PEPPERs) are available for hospices, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs), Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPFs), Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and Long-term Acute Care Hospitals (LTCHs). These reports summarize provider-specific data statistics for Medicare services that may be at risk for improper payments. Use your data to support internal auditing and monitoring activities. For instructions on obtaining your PEPPER, read the Secure PEPPER Access Guide. Visit the PEPPER

From May 13-19, 2018, National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW), formerly known as National Nursing Home Week, provides an opportunity to recognize the role of skilled nursing facilities in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities. The 2018 NSNCW theme announced by AHCA, “Celebrating Life’s Stories”, serves as a tribute to life’s most significant events, relationships and experiences that shape the unique perspectives of residents, families, staff, and volunteers in long term and post-acute care. Facilities will be encouraged

On April 25, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published new Five-Star ratings that include Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) staffing data on its Nursing Home Compare (NHC) website. The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has analyzed the new data and provided the following detailed summary. The summary notes that the following measures on NHC have been updated based on PBJ data from October 1 - December 31, 2017: Physical therapist hours per resident day RN hours per resident

In response to employer concerns and a large volume of appeals, the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has posted a new form on its website to allow employers to request that MassHealth review information in certain cases to determine the validity of the EMAC Supplement assessment. MassHealth and/or the Connector will investigate the referral. If the information provided by the employer results in a determination that an employee was enrolled in a qualifying employer sponsored insurance or was not eligible

The House of Representatives has finalized its state FY 2019 budget recommendation for the Medicaid program. We are pleased to report that the House adopted a consolidated budget amendment for the FY 2019 Medicaid budget which includes $20.3 million more in funding for quality nursing home care than the Governor’s FY 2019 House 2 budget recommendation The House’s Medicaid budget amendment for nursing homes would (1) add $2.8 million to the current FY 2018 direct care add on program (2)

On April 11th, the Committee on House Ways and Means (HWM) released its version of the state FY2019 budget. The Committee's recommendation includes $17.8 million more in funding for quality nursing home care than Governor Baker's FY 2019 House 2 recommendation that would cut $7.5 million from current spending. Mass Senior Care is grateful to Speaker Robert DeLeo, House Ways and Means Chairman Jeffrey Sanchez and the House of Representatives for their support of quality nursing home care. Two important