This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regularly provides important updates about post-acute care quality reporting programs, including training opportunities, public reporting, and reminders of data submission and review deadlines.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities
Data Submission Deadline Approaching
Assessment data for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF PAI) and data submitted to CMS via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network for July-September (Q3) of calendar year 2017 are due no later than 11:59 (PT) on Feb. 15.
Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals
Data Submission Deadline Approaching
Assessment data for the Long-Term Care Hospital Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation (LTCH CARE) and data submitted to CMS via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network for July-September (Q3) of calendar year 2017 are due no later than 11:59 (PT) on Feb. 15.
Training
Materials from the December 2017 Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program provider training are now available under “Related Links” on CMS’ dedicated long-term care hospital web page.
Skilled-Nursing Facilities
Errors on Assessment-Based Quality Measures
CMS has identified a calculation error for the three assessment-based quality measures: NQF #0678, pressure ulcers; NQF #0674, falls with major injury; and NQF #2631, assessment and care plan addressing function. Duplicate stays and invalid admission dates can appear on facility- and resident-level quality measure reports as well as Review and Correct reports.
Home Health
Pressure Ulcer Measure Errors and Correction
CMS has determined that the denominator counts for the Percent of Residents or Patients with Pressure Ulcers That Are New or Worsened (NQF #0678) on the home health Review and Correct reports are incorrect. Specifically, they do not include episodes where M1313 was coded as a valid skip, when the response to M1306 was “0” (No). The numerator counts on these reports were calculated correctly. The forthcoming confidential feedback reports for this measure (the home health on-demand risk adjusted outcome reports), as well as public reporting on Home Health Compare starting in 2019, will correctly incorporate episodes with valid skips in the denominator. As a result, home health agencies can expect to see much lower rates for the measure relative to the values on their Review and Correct reports to date. The Review and Correct reports going forward will also include this update. As a result, measure calculation will be standardized across post-acute care settings.
Hospice Services
Hospital Item Set Compliance
CMS has developed a fact sheet that outlines specific compliance requirements for the hospice item set and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems for the fiscal year 2020 reporting year.
Hospice Quality Reporting Program
The Hospice Quality Reporting Program quarterly update for the fourth quarter of 2017 is available and includes frequently asked questions.
