On May 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded Livanta a contract to continue to serve as California’s beneficiary and family centered care quality improvement organization (BFCC-QIO) for an additional five years, beginning June 8-May 30, 2024.
All acute care providers — including hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, hospices, nursing homes, skilled-nursing facilities, and home health agencies — were required to sign and submit a new memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Livanta, which was due June 8. This is a requirement of participation in Medicare. A new MOA is required for each CMS Certification Number under which the organization operates.
In addition, on May 8, CMS temporarily paused both Short Stay reviews and Higher-Weighted Diagnosis-Related Group reviews by the BFCC-QIOs. CMS has previously contracted with both of the BFCC-QIOs, but going forward will have one organization perform the reviews. CMS anticipates that a contract award will be issued by the third quarter of this year. The pause will remain in effect during the selection process.