Federal regulators have agreed to gather more comments from providers and others on the revision of new skilled nursing prospective payment system case-mix methodology.
The comment period was extended to Aug. 25.
The proposal in question would replace the RUG-IV case-mix model with the new Resident Classification System, Version 1 (RCS-I) model.
Proposed changes are intended to shift more focus to the treatment on the patient, rather than the payment, officials said.
This could mean separating therapy time from payment considerations.
Time spent in group therapy could be limited, officials explained, in order to assure sufficient time is spent on individual therapy.
Requests from interested groups, including professional organizations, led to the comment period extension.
“These organizations stated that by providing all stakeholders additional time to review and comment upon the ANPRM, they will be able to conduct a more comprehensive review of the refinements we are considering to the SNF PPS payment methodology and provide more meaningful comments,” CMS wrote.
The proposition is an advanced notice of a proposed rule making for fiscal 2019. Comments can be submitted electronically, by mail or in person.
From the August 01, 2017 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
