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The Future of Medicare: strategies for SNF Success. Brian Hickman CPA Sherri Robbins BSN, RN,LNHA, CLNC, RAC-CT Eric Rogers MEd. RT(R). Outline. Regulatory & reimbursement changes and impact on operations Quality Measures and Quality Reporting Payment reform Data analytics
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The Future of Medicare: strategies for SNF Success Brian Hickman CPA Sherri Robbins BSN, RN,LNHA, CLNC, RAC-CT Eric Rogers MEd. RT(R)
Outline Regulatory & reimbursement changes and impact on operations Quality Measures and Quality Reporting Payment reform Data analytics Strategies for success
Regulatory & Reimbursement • SNF PPS Final Rule – effective 10/1/17 • 1.0% market basket update • Would have been net market basket increase of 2.3% • Limited to maximum increase of 1.0% • Result of last year’s “permanent doc fix”, which required all post-acute care (PAC) providers to receive max of 1.0% increase for FY 2018
Regulatory & Reimbursement • SNF PPS Final Rule – effective 10/1/17 • Cape Girardeau 1.69% • Columbia 1.41% • Jefferson City 6.25% • Joplin (1.26%) • Kansas City 0.44% • St. Joseph 0.77% • St. Louis 1.02% • Springfield 2.84% • McDonald County 0.64% • Rural MO 0.39%
Regulatory & Reimbursement • SNF PPS Final Rule – effective 10/1/17 • Beginning in FY 2018, SNFs that do not satisfy SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) reporting requirements would have penalty of 2.0% reduction in Part A rates: • Results in net negative (1.0%) for FY2018 for affected providers
Regulatory & Reimbursement • SNF PPS Final Rule – effective 10/1/17 • CMS specified several elements of the SNF Value-based Purchasing (VBP) program • 2% Part A withhold (rate cut) beginning 10/1/18 • 60% of withhold available for incentive payments back to qualifying SNFs, based on rehospitalization rate and level of improvement
5 STAR and Quality Measures • Increased focus from hospital providers to the 5 STAR Nursing Home Compare. • It is publicly reported information so it must be correct, right? • Acute providers discouraging Medicare beneficiary discharge to SNFs with less than a 3 star rating. • Acute providers do not necessarily understand the STAR rating. • SNF providers must continue to educate referral sources and include current QAPI PIPs and outcomes data. • SNF providers should continue to focus on MDS accuracy, PBJ reporting (staff in correct categories) and survey outcomes. • Assessment based Quality Measures come directly from the MDS assessments and accuracy is key. • Timing of interventions (Part B therapy services, pain management programs, etc.) will have little impact on MDS data if they are not scheduled appropriately.
Resident classification system (Rcs-1) • ANPRM- Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule- RCS-1 Resident Classification System (Would replace MDS 3.0) https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2017-08519.pdf?utm_campaign=pi%20subscription%20mailing%20list&utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email • Potentially in effect FY2019 (Oct. 2018) • Public comments on the proposed rule & ANPRM were accepted until June 26, 2017 NOW WE WAIT….
Rcs-1 • Simplified MDS Process • Would have a 5-day MDS • SCSA • Discharge MDS *Essentially 1 RUG code billed for the entire stay
Rcs-1-thoughts • Billing may be less complex from an MDS perspective • Not sure of impact of non-therapy ancillaries (NTA) capturing ancillaries on claims • Payment calculation may increase in complexity • Payment reduction every 3 days after day 15 • 3 day readmission issue • Difference in calculation depending on payment classification WILL SOFTWARE VENDORS BE ABLE TO CALCULATE THIS? • Diagnosis coding will be more & more important • Impact of comorbidities on payment, accuracy of ICD-10 codes • Nursing/therapy documentation reviews may be more important • Reviews for miscoded items that impact payment • Reviews to ensure therapy complies to the 25/25/50 rule
Payment Reform • Obama’s ACA focused on two key items: • Accessto care which remains politically problematic • Deliveryof care which is making steady progress • Despite congressional uncertainty, CMS presses forward with transitioning from volume to value (code word for RISK) • ACOs, NextGen ACO (VT APM), CJR, CPC+, chronic care management, MACRA • Impacting all payer sectors • Medicare • Medicaid • Commercial/MA plans
Payment Reform How?
Payment Reform Mandatory cardiac bundle approved by Tom Price May 2017. Change of tune Mandatory cardiac bundle cancellation proposal August 2017. Question: How will CMS reduce the growth of health care costs while promoting high-value, effective care? Answer:Mixed Signals
Payment Reform • Large increase in ACO applications for PY2018. Extended application deadline. • Addition of Track 1+ and other incentives for participation More evidence:
Payment Reform ACOs are being used widely by commercial payers • Commercial ACOs cover some 17.2 million beneficiaries, more than twice as many as Medicare ACOs.¹ • The total number of ACOs in the US is estimated at 200-300 • Seven of the ten largest ACOs in the US are commercial ACOs.² 1 Muhlstein D and McClellan M; “Accountable Care Organizations in 2016. Health Affairs blog April 21, 2016 2 SK&A “Top 30 ACOs” SK&A Market Insight Report 2014.
Payment Reform • Commercial health plans and private payers are accelerating the path toward value-based reimbursement and have developed hundreds of accountable care organizations. • In 2014, two dozen insurers and health care providers announced their commitment to move 75% of their business to value-based contracts by 2020. • Private payers are actively implementing the medical home model
Data Analytics Discharged Home/Home Health Discharged SNF/ IRF
Strategies for Success • Regulatory and Reimbursement • Avoid or limit rate cuts • Proper reporting under QRP • Monitor rehospitalization rates under VBP • INTERACT programs • Appropriate SNF coverage of patients • Still opportunities under Medicare for most SNFs – margins subsidize Medicaid/private pay shortfalls • Monitor staffing/other costs • Effective budgeting and staff utilization • Accounts Receivable – proper billing and collection
Strategies for Success • Payment Reform • Leverage data analytics to understand market share and trends • Understand total cost of care (from payer’s perspective) and how this compares to peers for similar episodes of care • Work to develop a new value proposition to referring hospitals who are narrowing post-acute networks- be a “preferred provider” • Develop episode-specific care plans “transitional care plans” in collaboration with referring hospitals
Strategies for Success • Quality • MDS personnel trained to accurately complete all sections of the MDS. • This will remain a key factor if the RCS-1 is implemented. • Management team routinely reviews CASPER reports (9 total) • It is the submission of quality data, not performance on the QMs that determines compliance with the QRP. • Take advantage of the Review and Correction periods and pay attention to deadlines for payment determination. • QAPI program includes Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) to improve accuracy of MDS coding and compliance with billing Medicare claims. • QAPI program includes PIP for each Quality Measure determined to be above or below threshold.
Questions? Brian Hickman bhickman@bkd.com Sherri Robbins slrobbins@bkd.com Eric Rogers erogers@bkd.com 417.865.8701
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