CMS

The CMS final payment rule considered comments

The CMS final payment rule was influenced by over 4,700 comments received when releasing the skilled nursing facility final rule on payment rates and Patient-Driven Payment Model cuts. The SNF final rule allows for the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) cut to be spread out over two years and a 2.7% pay bump for 2023.

Industry leaders note the 2.7% pay bump will help, but there are still concerns with increasing labor and operational costs.

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES

Nursing Home Ownership and Quality of Care

The Fact Sheet issued in February by the White House addressed improving safety and quality of care in nursing homes.  The statement cited studies that nursing homes owned by private equity firms tended to have “significantly worse outcomes for residents,” which is disputed by the nursing home industry.  Regardless of ownership structure, long-term care facilities are facing significant staffing and economic pressures.

Whether public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit, providing high quality care to residents is the primary focus in this time of unprecedented challenges.

When that quality is called into question, facilities must be able to demonstrate the type and level of care that was provided through documentation in the resident’s medical records, as well as through policies, procedures, and other business records.  Excelas has the tools and the expertise to assist long-term care facilities in conducting audits, assessing documentation quality and completeness, integrating facility policies and procedures with individual resident medical records, reviewing staffing records, and preparing comprehensive analyses for facility administrators, risk managers, insurers, and counsel. Learn more >>

KNOWLEDGE-BUILDING

2022 DRI Senior Living and Long-Term Care Litigation Seminar
September 7–9, 2022 | Nashville, Tennessee

• Emerging issues, challenges, and trends facing our industry, including COVID-19 litigation and class action and ADA claims
• Practical tips, suggestions, and defense strategies on how senior living communities can address the staffing crisis and anticipated new CMS guidance
• The nuts and bolts of defending 30(b)(6) depositions
• The latest legal and technical arguments for responding to requests for audit trail information
• COVID-19 outcomes and prevention for the long-term care population from the perspective of an infectious disease specialist

METRICS

Through July 31, 2022, Excelas, LLC has delivered customized solutions to our healthcare clients:

13,724   Records/Cases Reviewed
17,695,414   Pages reviewed
373  Nationwide Clients & Firms Supported

Team Metrics
4.71%   Average Voluntary Turnover 2012 – 2020
26%      Advanced Degrees
48%      Certifications

JUST UPDATED

Excelas’ PREP Act Updates list summaries of relevant articles and selected court decisions, as well as additional recent court decisions, with hyperlinks for reference. The attached update is the most recent, including listings through June 2022.