Skilled nursing providers happily received word of a 2.4% Medicare pay increase in the government’s final 2019 payment that was announced in late July.
But they also cried foul over provisions of the new Patient-Driven Payment Model system.
“The therapy language in the rule criticizes skilled nursing providers for providing therapy when CMS has promulgated rules over the last 20 years that encourage therapy,” complained American Health Care Association President and CEO Mark Parkinson.
“Rather than focusing on outcomes associated with therapy delivery as we requested, this rule micromanages patient care and therapy minutes,” he added.
Of particular concern is a 25% limit on concurrent and group therapy.
“Decisions about how much therapy is provided should not be made from a government office,” Parkinson said.
From the September 01, 2018 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
