Final Medicare SNF payment rule also addresses value-based purchasing and quality reporting.

Proposed rule containing the Physician Fee Schedule that governs Medicare Part B therapy rates was published July 15th.  

Providers with low Medicare utilization should consider applying for a waiver that would simplify their reporting requirements.

Along with a PPS rate update, CMS proposal contains new reporting measures and provides details on the value-based purchasing hospitalization measure.   

Next phase of national initiative to reduce avoidable hospitalizations likely to include additional New York City area nursing homes. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a new dataset, the Skilled Nursing Facility Utilization and Payment Public Use File (SNF PUF).  The data file details facility level utilization data for CY2013 and is being trended for utilization patterns in RUG distributions, length of stay, therapy minutes per RUG, and other data to provide keys to current utilizaiton in each SNF.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the appoinment of a Supplemental Medical Review Contractor (SMRC) for manual medical review of therapy claims above the $3700 threshold.

LeadingAge updates Medicare Part B rate calculation tool to reflect the Nov. 16^th final rule.