March 21, 2016
NASL News

CMS Releases New "SNF PUF" Data to Boost Transparency Around Rehab & More
On March 9, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a large data set that shows by provider the amount of therapy provided specific to two Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs) – Rehab Ultra High (RU) and Rehab Very High (RV). CMS provides analysis regarding patients with therapy minutes within ten minutes of the minimum threshold used to classify a patient into that particular RUG category. Read CMS' fact sheet. Read more.

MedPAC Report to Congress Continues Focus on Therapy & Payment Reform
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC's) annual report to the Congress focuses on therapy and payment reform. MedPAC includes background on what the Commission calls SNF “overpayments for therapy services." Review NASL's summary for additional details. Read MedPAC's March 2016 Report to Congress,which also mentions MedPAC's perspective on telehealth.

New York's New ePrescribing Waiver to Impact LTPAC
On March 16, Commissioner of Health for the State of New York Howard Zucker, MD, JD, issued a blanket waiver outlining certain exceptions to New York’s e-prescribing (Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing or I-STOP) law. Some of the exceptions to the law, which takes effect on March 27, 2016, apply to LTPAC providers. Read NASL's notice about the waiver, which links to Commissioner Zucker's letter on the e-prescribing waiver.

CMS Updates PBJ Manual, Issues S&C Letter on July 1 Deadline for Reporting on Staffing
Last week, CMS posted its latest Electronic Staffing Data Submission Payroll-Based Journal Long-Term Care Facility Policy Manual (Version 2), which is cited in Friday's memo to State Survey Agency Directors (S&C 16-13-NH). The S&C letter reminds providers that the mandatory submission period for electronic reporting on staffing begins on July 1, 2016. NASL has reviewed the most recent changes to the PBJ manual, which include clarification regarding “how facilities may report hours for staff who switch primary roles within a day.” Read the S&C letter. Review the latest PBJ manual.

NASL Reaches Out to E&C Subcommittee on MACRA Reforms
NASL engaged with Members of the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee as they prepared for the March 17 hearing on implementation of MACRA Reauthorization Act of 2015 and payment reforms. NASL shared our concerns about how CMS would provide a payment update under the new Alternative Payment Models (APMs) or the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for nursing facilities billing Part B therapy services of physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs) and speech language pathologists (SLPs) who treat beneficiaries in nursing facilities. Read more.

CMS Contracts Awarded to Successful Bidders for Competitive Bidding Round 2
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it has started sending contract offers to winning “Round 2 Recompete” bidders in the latest round of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program, and the national mail-order program for diabetic testing supplies. Read more.  

HHS Ahead of Schedule in Tying 30% of Medicare Payments to Quality
This month, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced that it is nearly a full year ahead of schedule In reaching its goal of having 30% of Medicare payments paid through alternative payment models by the end of 2016. Read more.