News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) late last week issued a Proposed Rule that provides details about the upcoming implementation of the new Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) that will take effect on Oct. 1, 2019. CMS will follow up with a final rule on the Oct. 1 rates around Aug. 1.  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator vowed this week to “push beyond the status quo” in its oversight of nursing homes. “[W’e’re] continuously looking for ways to improve our approach to nursing home safety and quality. We must never be complacent – we should always push ahead to continuously improve our efforts,” CMS Administrator Seem Verma wrote in a wide-ranging blog post published April 15.  

The Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act, which provides a six-month extension for the Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) spousal impoverishment protections, has passed both bodies of Congress and now heads to the White House where it is expected to be signed into law. 

U.S. Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN) is co-sponsoring legislation to eliminate the rigid provisions of the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training lock-out and grant the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) greater flexibility in reinstating provider CNA training programs.  

A new toolkit from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides an inside look on how Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) select skilled nursing partners. The report indicates preferred partners are those that consistently provide high-quality care, dedicate staffers to care coordination and demonstrate a willingness to reform service delivery. 

The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) review and correct reports are now available. The reports have been enhanced to include the following features: 

The Administration for Community Living leads our nation’s observance of Older Americans Month each May. The 2019 theme, Connect, Create, Contribute, encourages older adults and their communities to: 

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced changes to Nursing Home Compare and the Five Star Rating system that include several changes to the Quality Measure (QM) Domain. Changes to the performance thresholds and methodology in the QM Domain may result in many nursing homes experiencing a decline in their ratings until further improvements are put in place within their organizations. Key QM Domain changes include: 

Responding to the Congressional Telehealth Caucus's request for information, LeadingAge recommended several changes in Medicare policy to expand access to telehealth services and remote monitoring, improve patient outcomes, and control health care costs.  

The U.S. Housing & Urban Development Department (HUD) released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for new Section 202 funds. There is $50 million for the construction and ongoing rental subsidy of Section 202 homes. HUD expects to make approximately 30 awards. The deadline to apply is Aug. 28.  

A bill to fix the antiquated and onerous problem of Medicare observation days has been introduced in Congress. The Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act would require all time a Medicare beneficiary spends in a hospital to be counted toward the three-day stay requirement. 

LeadingAge has finalized its policy priorities for 2019, which includes a robust agenda on affordable housing. Funding priorities in this area include: 

The U.S Department of Labor (DOL) last week published a proposed rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that would clarify whether certain kinds of perks, benefits or other miscellaneous items must be included in the regular rate of pay. 

The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance last week to frequently asked questions on the implementation of activities associated with the final Home and Community-Based Services Settings Rule. While there is some good news in the guidance for adult day services providers, there are additional questions being raised by providers on the lack of clarification in several areas – including those looking to build and/or expand in the next few years.  

President Trump submitted his administration’s fiscal year 2020 spending proposals to Congress last week – and they did not feature good news for aging services providers and the older adults they serve. 

Kaiser Health News reported last week that care centers have seen their fines drop by about 31 percent during the Trump administration. 

Non-improving late adopters in the reduction in long-stay residents who were receiving an antipsychotic medication may soon be subjected to enhanced oversight and enforcement remedies, according to a notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised Appendix Q of the State Operations Manual (SOM), used by surveyors for guidance in citing immediate jeopardy (IJ). This revision, known as Core Appendix Q, will provide a template for surveyors to identify the citation and notify providers in a clear, consistent and timely manner.

A new proposal that would greatly increase the number of employees eligible for overtime pay is raising concerns for aging services providers. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released a free on-line training course in infection prevention and control for nursing home staff in the long-term care setting.