New SNF Value-Based Purchasing FAQs and Feedback Reports Now Available

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and posted facility-specific Interim Quarterly Confidential Feedback Reports.

The FAQs include the timeline for the new quality measures that will be used in the VBP Program. Federal legislation enacted in 2021 authorized up to nine measures for the SNF VBP Program for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024, in addition to the existing 30-day all cause readmission measure. CMS adopted two additional measures for use beginning in the FFY 2026 SNF VBP Program Year and one additional measure for use beginning in the FFY 2027 SNF VBP Program Year. The new measures are:

• Healthcare-Associated Infections Requiring Hospitalization, beginning in the 2026 Program Year;
• Total Nurse Staffing Hours per Resident Day, beginning in the 2026 Program Year;
• Discharge to Community – Post-Acute Care, beginning in the 2027 Program Year.

In addition to the FAQs, CMS has posted new Interim Quarterly Confidential Feedback Reports in the Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (QIES)/Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting (CASPER) reporting system. The FAQs include detailed information about the schedule of feedback reports and how to access them. The March reports are based on partial year data and are not considered final. As a result, providers are unable to request Review and Corrections at this time. More information on these reports and the review and correction process can be found in the updated FAQs.

Contact: Karen Lipson, klipson@leadingageny.org