Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

EDITOR’S NOTE: This session has been filled; federal officials will be coming out shortly with details about another opportunity the afternoon of Sept. 1.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host a national provider call Tuesday on skilled nursing facility payment changes for 2012 based on the new MDS 3.0 assessment system. Officials have called for an average 11.1% payment cut to providers, causing an uproar in the long-term care community. A huge audience at this government-sponsored call is all but ensured. Pre-registration is necessary by Monday.

The call will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (Eastern Time) Tuesday. It will feature subject experts discussing allocation of group therapy, changes to the MDS 3.0 schedule, student supervision, new assessment protocols to go into effect Oct. 1, and other popular topics. A Q&A session will follow the presentations. Registration for the call closes at 1:30 p.m. (Eastern) Monday, or when spaces are filled. To learn more about the event and to obtain key documents related to it, visit the CMS webpage here.