DOH Posts NHQI Score Sheets, Issues ATI Letter
Last week, the Department of Health (DOH) posted the final 2019 Nursing Home Quality Initiative (NHQI) score sheets to the Health Commerce System (HCS). Other than indicating the overall quintile assignment, they are the same as the feedback score sheets posted in April for provider review. Note that most of the measures used in the 2019 NHQI are based on 2018 data. The scoring methodology document is available here. The payment adjustment calculation, which can be positive or negative based on a facility’s overall quintile assignment, is described in the Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) available here. Backup calculations showing the Medicaid days used in the NHQI payment adjustments as well as those used in calculating assessment reinvestment allocations are posted on the DOH website here. Payment adjustments for both NHQI and assessment reinvestment should be reflected in Medicaid payment cycle 2262, with a check release date of Jan. 14th.
Additionally, DOH has notified those nursing homes eligible for Advanced Training Initiative (ATI) funding of their eligibility and indicated that they have until Jan. 27th to complete the ATI survey. Homes with staff retention rates exceeding the state median are eligible for the program, although homes receiving Vital Access Provider (VAP) grants and hospital-based homes are categorically excluded. On the ATI survey, funding recipients are required to select a training partner and a training program from a menu of DOH-approved partners and programs listed on the survey. The programs are designed to assist direct care staff to identify changes in a resident’s physical, mental, or functional status that could lead to hospitalization. LeadingAge NY is one of the designated training partners for the ATI program. Additional information on the ATI training programs that we offer will be circulated in the coming days. We urge members to select us as their training partner and to reach out to Kathy Taylor (ktaylor@leadingageny.org) with questions about our offerings.
Contact: Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8841