LeadingAge Statement on CMS Proposed Rule for the Skilled Nursing Facility Payment Update
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lauren Shaham, LeadingAge, (202) 508-1219
Washington – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposal for the skilled nursing facility (SNF) payment update offers both opportunities and obstacles for America’s nursing homes.
We are pleased that in developing options for the update, CMS wants to protect the intended rate increases for complex medical care, which the Resource Utilization Group IV.
Because of the spike in group therapy, CMS is also considering is an across the board 11% rate reduction in next year’s payment update. A reduction of that amount would severely harm the ability of many homes to provide the quality of care that their residents deserve.
However, we are pleased that CMS is willing to consider other options and avoid this reduction and will advance proposals that will help CMS to address the group therapy issues through other means.