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Now Available – AHCA Summary of CMS FY 2024 SNF Proposed Payment Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday issued the proposed rule for the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) fiscal year (FY) 2024 update. AHCA has reviewed the proposed rule and developed a summary outlining key provisions and impacts on members. Please note this is for members only and requires an AHCA/NCAL log-in to view.
- The proposed rule provides for a net market basket increase for SNFs of 3.7 percent (approximately $1.2 billion) beginning October 1, 2023.
- The proposed rule did not include minimum staffing requirements.
- Proposed changes to § 488.436(a) Civil Money Penalties (CMP) would allow facilities to receive by default the 35 percent penalty reduction when the facility has not appealed within the 60-day timeframe.
AHCA CEO Mark Parkinson and team will review key details of the proposed rule during a member webinar this Friday, April 7 at 1 PM Central. Registration is required. It will be recorded and available for those who are unable to attend.
Tips for Registering:
- Use Google Chrome to avoid technical problems.
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Members will need to log in using their existing email and password first.
- Once you are logged in to the website, you will be able to register by clicking the green register button at the top of the page.
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If you forget your password, click here.
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If you are new to the site, you can create an account here. Answer all fields on the create an account page, especially locating your company name. You can search by name or zip code. You will be able to register for the webinar after creating an account.
Email educate@ahca.org if you need assistance with registering. For all other questions related to the proposed payment rule, please contact Mike Cheek.
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Focus F-Tag of the Week: §483.40 Behavioral Health Services
In fall of 2022, CMS issued Admin Info: 22-09-ALL, which outlined several regulatory focus areas for Federal Monitoring Surveys related to specific F-tags for FY2022 and FY2023. One regulatory area of focus is §483.40 Behavioral health services, specifically at F740, F741, and F742.
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CMS: Lapses in infection control, vaccine compliance to garner ‘aggressive’ enforcement
Federal regulators have quietly put in place new, stricter enforcement measures for nursing homes that struggle to meet infection control and vaccine immunization requirements for residents and staff.
Changes effective immediately include the threat of increased civil money penalties, a shortened time period for facilities to demonstrate compliance prior to the effectuation of discretionary denial of payment for new admissions remedy, and stronger directed plans of correction. READ MORE
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MDS Transition on April 17
CMS is preparing to move to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) for Minimum Data Set (MDS) submissions. In order to ensure access to the new system, please follow these instructions to create a new account and establish credentials by April 13, 2023.
Completed assessments should be submitted before 8 PM ET on April 13 to ensure users are within the MDS transmission requirements outlined in the Resident Assessment Instrument manual. Between April 13-17, users will not be able to transmit any assessments.
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April 13 at 8 PM ET: Access to the QIES system for MDS submission will end.
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April 17 at 8 AM ET: Access to iQIES will be available and users will have the ability to transmit assessments, view validation reports, and other MDS-related reports. Once the transition is completed, iQIES will be used for anything MDS-related.
Please note that Payroll Based Journal will remain in the QIES system with the next data submission deadline on May 15, 2023. READ MORE
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Clinical Update from KHCA Consultant Linda Farrar
Do you have the CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities, LTC Open Door forum on April 13 on your calendar? The agenda that CMS released has some pretty significant subjects on the agenda. This is a significant time of change for LTC facilities based on multiple changes from CMS and the end of the Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. You may want to send this to your MDS Coordinator since CMS will be discussing MDS changes and updates including the transition to iQIES.
Per the AHCA Communication, here are the key points: Click here to continue reading.
Open Door Participation Instructions:
This call will be Conference Call Only.
To participate by phone:
Dial: 1-888-455-1397 & Conference Passcode: 4325849
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CMS Releases New MDS RAI Manual Version with ‘Substantial Revisions’
The latest version of the MDS Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) manual released early Monday contains “substantial revisions,” according to a statement issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). READ MORE
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iQIES Planned System Outage April 14 8:00 p.m. ET thru April 17 8:00 a.m. ET
Due to scheduled maintenance, the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) won’t be available from: Friday, April 14, 2023 8 p.m. ET until Monday, April 17, 2023 8 a.m. ET.
iQIES Service Center - For questions about this information, please contact QIES/iQIES Service Center by phone at (800) 339-9313 or send an email. Please note that call volume may be higher than normal during this time.
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HHS Updates 2024 Medicare Advantage Program and Part D Payment Policies
Updated Medicare Advantage and Part D policies ensure the overall Medicare program remains strong and stable for the 65 million beneficiaries today and future generations to come, payments to private insurance companies are accurate, and taxpayer dollars are well spent
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), released the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D Rate Announcement that finalized payment policies for these programs. The final policies in the Rate Announcement improve payment accuracy and ensure taxpayer dollars are well spent. CMS will phase-in certain updates, and on average, CMS anticipates a payment increase for MA plans of 3.32% from 2023 to 2024, which is approximately a $13.8 billion increase in MA payments for next year. READ MORE
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Attention SNF Providers!
CMP Funds approved for CMS Certified Communities to receive a FREE Violett Air Disinfection Unit
KHCA has partnered with Violett to provide certified facilities with a FREE portable indoor air cleaner with high-efficiency particulate air filters (HEPS) to improve air quality.
This technology was designed in Washington State and tested in collaboration with long term care facilities utilizing Violett’s portable UVL air disinfection technology which has proven to kill >99.8888% of COVID-19 surrogate virus MS2 in 30 minutes.
Now is your chance to benefit from this partnership. As a service to our members, KHCA will handle the paperwork, so you can focus on creating healthier shared indoor living spaces. READ MORE
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AHCA/NCAL Awards Program Nominations Opening April 7
Nominations for the 2023 AHCA/NCAL Awards Program will open on April 7 and run through June 9, 2023. All nominations will be available via Award Force. Members are encouraged to check back on each of AHCA and NCAL's award pages for more information, including rules and guidelines. READ MORE
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Upcoming Education: MDS - RAI Changes Workshop
6/12/2023 9:00AM - 4:00PM
This workshop has been specifically created to review the changes to the RAI manual starting October 1. Line by line coding instructions for new and revised sections. Click here for more details.
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Assisted Living Lunch and Learn: A Deeper Look at FCS/NSA and HSP
4/28/2023 10:00AM - 2:00PM
The Functional Capacity Screen (FCS). Who knew such a simple looking document could be so complicated? During this lunch and learn you’ll learn how to accurately complete a Functional Capacity Screen (FCS). Together you’ll collaborate and work through common ‘gray areas’ and how to document them. Once you’ve tackled the Functional Capacity Screen (FCS), the Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) and Health Services Plan (HSP) are next! A completed FCS will be provided to all participants and Joan Hudson, RN-BC, LNHA will walk you through how to take the data from the FCS, add your resident ‘wants’ to the assessment and produce a Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) to capture all the billable services for your resident.
Learning Objectives:
- Review the regulations for FCS/NSA/HSP and how to stay in compliance with each.
- Complete an FCS/NSA/HSP for a sample resident
- Review scenarios and how to handle situations that indicate the need for a Risk Agreement.
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Two On Demand Webinars focusing on Social Services
Questions about education can be directed to Polly Berkley VP of Operations and Education.
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Webinar: Deep Dive Into Federal Regulations in a Year: §483.20 Resident Assessment & §483.21 Comprehensive Person-Centered Care Plan Requirements
4/11/2023 1:30PM-3:00PM
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FREE in person or ZOOM: We Need to Talk: The Transformative Power of Life and Death Conversations
4/12/2023 2:00PM-3:15PM
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Assisted Living Conference
Lawrence, KS
4/14/2023 8:00AM-4:00PM
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Webinar: Mission Possible: SNF Department Head Briefing - Thriving Therapy Departments
4/25/2023 1:30PM-2:30PM
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Assisted Living Lunch and Learn: A Deeper Look at FCS/NSA and HSP
4/28/2023 10:00AM - 2:00PM
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Nurse Leadership Conference
6/13/2023 11:00AM - 6/14/2023 4:00PM
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Administrator in Training (AIT) Program
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Kansas Health Care Association and the Kansas Center for Assisted Living
1100 SW Gage Blvd. | PO Box 4770 | Topeka, KS 66604
PH: 785-267-6003 FAX: 785-267-0833
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