Cheryl Phillips, M.D.

Skilled nursing facilities will see $470 million in aggregate 2014 Medicare reimbursements, which is $30 million less than projected in a proposed rule, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

CMS said it relied on more recent data in calculating the “multifactor productivity adjustment” in the final rule issued last month.

The update is “reasonable,” but providers should remember sequestration cuts are still in effect, said Cheryl Phillips, M.D.,
LeadingAge senior vice president, public policy and advocacy. Sequestration reduces Medicare reimbursements by 2%.

The final rule also includes a new Minimum Data Set item for reporting therapy days.