Skilled nursing providers have just 10 days to review new performance data headed for the Nursing Home Compare Website. Six new measures will be on display.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday announced that SNF provider preview reports have been updated and are now available for review. The updated reports include quality data submitted between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2019, for assessment-based measures, and from Oct. 1, 2017 to Sept. 30, 2019, for claims-based measures.
The updated data will be published during the October 2020 refresh of the Nursing Home Compare website, the agency noted. Six new measures will be publicly displayed on the website following the refresh.
The six new measures on display will include:
• changes in skin integrity post-acute care: pressure ulcer/injury
• drug regimen review conducted with follow-up for identified issues – PAC SNF QRP
• application for IRF functional outcome measure: change in self-care (NQF #2663)
• application for IRF function outcome measure: change in mobility (NQF #2634)
• application for IRF functional outcome measure: change in discharge self-care score (NQF #2635)
• application of IRF functional outcome measure: discharge mobility score (NQF #2636).
It’s the first time SNF performance data for these measures will be included in the reports. Providers have until Aug. 30 to review the performance data.
An industry expert stressed the importance of skilled nursing providers taking advantage of the review and correct phase when it comes. Corrections to the underlying data aren’t being permitted anymore. If providers do believe their quality measure scores are incorrect, they can ask CMS to review their data.
“Once the data is displayed, we can no longer correct the underlying data, which is why the review and correct process should be taken seriously,” Amy Stewart, vice president of education and certification strategy with the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing, told McKnight’s.
“It is the only opportunity to correct underlying data,” Stewart added.
Stewart also encouraged providers and SNF leaders to be prepared to answer questions about the new data being displayed.
“[Accountable care organizations], Medicare Advantage plans, stakeholders and consumers use this data when selecting SNF placement, so if the data is less than favorable, SNF leaders should be prepared to talk about their improvement efforts,” she explained.
This story has been updated.
