CMS Publishes FY 2022 SNF Annual Payment Update Table

In January 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated and published the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Annual Payment Update (APU) table. The table provides a summary of the data elements used to calculate the FY 2022 SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) APU determinations. The data elements are derived from Minimum Data Sets (MDSs) that you are completing and submitting now, in Calendar Year (CY) 2020. The table is available for download on the SNF QRP Measures and Technical Information website. Scroll down to the Downloads section and select the first option. Knowing the data elements gives you an opportunity to create systems of auditing assessments for dashes prior to submitting to CMS.

The good news is that there are submission edits that provide an error message when using a dash for all but one MDS item used to calculate the QRP measures. The error codes are 3891, 3897, and 3908 and provide this warning:

Payment Reduction Warning: A dash (-) submitted in this quality measure item may result in a payment reduction for your facility of two percentage points for the affected payment determination.

The MDS item that is not included in discharge goal warning error code 3891 is item GG0170S2. Be extra careful when dash filling discharge goals, as there only needs to be one and that could easily be overlooked.

Avoid using dashes on assessments by ensuring that all information needed to complete the MDS is obtained on admission. Remember to review all Final Validation Reports for the above warning codes. Another useful report is the SNF Provider Threshold Report in the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reports (CASPER) application. Providers can also sign up with CORMAC to receive notification of their threshold status.

If you have questions, please contact Susan Chenail.

Contact: Susan Chenail, schenail@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383 ext. 116