On May 4, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking setting out options that CMS is considering to replace the Medicare reimbursement system for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs).[1] The Center for Medicare Advocacy’s Alert described the proposal at length and the ways it would change financial incentives for SNFs. Likely effects of these changes include a drastic reduction in therapy services in SNFs and a shortened period of Medicare Part A-covered care.[2]
In response to requests from “professional associations and national industry organizations,” CMS has now extended the public comment period to August 25, 2017.[3]
The Center will be drafting comments and will make them available well before the August 25 deadline.
[1] 82 Fed. Reg. 20980 (May 4, 2017).
[2] Center for Medicare Advocacy, “CMS Considers New Medicare Reimbursement System for Skilled Nursing Facilities: If Implemented, Would Gut Therapy” (CMA Alert, May 17, 2017), https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/cma-alert-may-17-2017/.
[3] CMS, “Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities: Revisions to Case-Mix Methodology; Extension of Comment Period,” https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-06-14/pdf/2017-12324.pdf.