LeadingAge NY Analysis of SNF PPS Final Rule

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) final rule for federal fiscal year (FY) 2017. The rule includes updates to SNF Medicare Part A rates and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) and Quality Reporting Program (QRP). Rates established by the final rule go into effect for cost reporting periods beginning on or after Oct. 1, 2016.

LeadingAge NY analysis of the final rule is available here and includes:

• Brief summaries of changes being made to the SNF VBP and QR Programs;
• A summary of the factors impacting the SNF PPS rates and related programmatic issues;
• Directions on using the LeadingAge national SNF PPS rate tool;
• An update on changes to the wage index; and
• Listings of 2016 SNF PPS rates by New York State region.

Although the VBP and QRP initiatives will not have a direct financial impact on providers until the fall of 2018, the measurement periods for the data which will help determine the payments are underway, making this the right time to become familiar with the programs.

Contacts: Dan Heim, dheim@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383 (QRP & VBP); Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8841 (PPS Rates)