SNF Medicare Part A & PDPM Changes 10/1/23 – Final Rule Impact on Therapy & MDS

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Part A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) FY2024 FINAL RULE last week containing the components that will go into effect 10/1/23 .

The Final Rule provides updates to Part A rates, ICD-10 diagnosis code mapping for Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) calculations, SNF Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) changes, and SNF Value Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) program updates.

Most of the changes for this October, with the exception of a new MDS, fall under the Quality Measure category, and because most of these Measures are tied to the MDS and reimbursement, it is critical for therapy and MDS professionals to understand how the Measures work.

For a review of the MDS changes coming 10/1/23, specifically Section GG, this will help.

The information in the Final Rule most important to SNF therapy and MDS professionals is summarized here.

Medicare Part A Payment Rate Changes 

The Federal Per Diem rates are updated annually. On 10/1/23, the rates for Part A have a net increase of 4%, or $1.4 billion in Medicare Part A payments to SNFs in FY2024. To put this in perspective, if all 15,000+ SNFs were created equal, this would equate to approximately $93,000 more per SNF.

Medicare Part A rate updates will include “Phase 2” of the PDPM parity adjustment recalibration, required to “right the wrongs” of provider practice patterns that occurred during the first year after transition from the RUG-IV payment system to the PDPM, that caused a 5% overpayment to SNFs. In FY2024, SNFs will be “paying back” the remaining 2.3%.

Below are the final unadjusted rates, that when multiplied by the case mix index values, determine each PDPM Case Mix Group rate.

Not sure if your SNF is classified as urban or rural? Use the Look Up Tool HERE

Medicare Part A PDPM Changes – Case Mix Index Values

Case Mix Index (CMI) values for each of the PDPM Components, PT, OT, Speech, Nursing and Non-Therapy Ancillary, show reductions again this year. Adjusting the CMI values is how the “PDPM recalibration” is accomplished. When multiplied by the Unadjusted Federal Per Diem Rates shown above, Case Mix Group rates will look something like this for FY2024.

Final FY2024 (Urban)

Final FY2024 Rural Rates can be found HERE

These handy charts, along with valuable PDPM resources, can be found here:

PDPM Resources And Custom Tools

Medicare Part A PDPM Changes: ICD-10 Code Mapping For PT, OT & Speech Components

ICD-10 Codes used in MDS Section I0020B as the primary reason for SNF Part A covered care are used for case mix classification under PDPM. Using the Mapping Tool provided by CMS, each ICD-10 Code can be mapped to 1 of 4 PT and OT Clinical Categories as shown here, or identified as a Return to Provider code [meaning this code cannot be used in Section I0020B of the MDS].

Each year, CMS makes modifications to the mapping of certain ICD-10 Codes related to PDPM. This year, multiple changes were finalized to align PDPM mapping with ICD-10 coding rules.

The FINAL code changes for FY 2024 are as follows:

FINAL General ICD-10 Mapping changes:

From Return to Provider to Medical Management

• D75.84 Other platelet-activating anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4) disorders
• K76.82 Hepatic encephalopathy

From Acute Neuro to Medical Management

• G90.A Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

From Medical Management to Return to Provider

• F43.81 Prolonged grief disorder and F43.89 Other reactions to severe stress

168 Unspecified Substance Use Disorder Codes from Medical Management to Return to Provider

• Including: F10.90 Alcohol use, unspecified, uncomplicated, F10.91 Alcohol use, unspecified, in remission, F11.91 Opioid use, unspecified, in remission, F12.91 Cannabis use, unspecified, in remission, F13.91 Sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic use, unspecified, in remission, and F14.91 Cocaine use, unspecified, in remission. LINK to FINAL list

91 Fracture Codes (Displaced and Pathological) – Now Adding Eligibility for One of Two Ortho Surgery Categories

• 45 subcategory S42.2 – codes for displaced fractures
• 46 subcategory of M84.5 – codes for pathological fractures
• LINK to 91 FINAL Clinical Category Changes

95 Codes added to Return to Provider List as Unacceptable Principal Diagnosis Codes

• Will no longer be able to be used as the primary diagnosis on the claim due to conflict with the Medicare Code Editor system. LINK to FINAL list.

Here is the link to the new FINAL CMS ICD-10 Mapping File in the Rule:

FY 2024 PDPM ICD-10 Mapping Code File

Changes In Wage Index – Geographical Locations – For Medicare Part A Calculation

Providers are deemed “urban” or “rural” for purposes of calculating the labor portion of the daily rate, a factor in determining the overall daily rate for a facility. Using wage index values specific to location to adjust the labor portion of the rate is done to reflect the wage differences throughout the country.

Clearly stated, reimbursement rates are different depending on where you live.

The final Wage Index Tables for FY 2024 can be found here:

FY 2024 Final Wage Index Tables

Not sure if your SNF is classified as urban or rural? Use the Wage Index Look Up Tool HERE

Insert Deep Breath Here….

Changes To CMS Medicare Part A Quality Measure Programs

If you are not already heavily involved in your SNF Quality Measure Program processes, NOW is the time. As these Measure Programs grow and grow, don’t get left behind. By understanding the Measures and Programs, SNF therapy and MDS professionals can be a godsend to their facility. Here, we break down each program and what will be changing.

SNF Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) 

The SNF QRP is the program that started small over 7 years ago [remember when Section GG was new?] and is now ballooning into the program with the most measures. This is a pay for reporting program, meaning, SNFs are required to report measure data, and if not reported, facilities will continue to be subject to a 2% Part A payment penalty [don’t report…..lose 2% of Part A $$ ]. The penalty occurs when information is missing, not for poor outcomes. [yet]

What does missing data look like? Data can be MDS questions that have missing (dashed) data in select items, or data that is required to be provided directly from the SNF to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

Here is a link to all the MDS questions that, if not filled out, will trigger the payment penalty if the threshold is met. For the current collection period, both the current MDS and the “new” MDS are in play, and as of 10/1/23, the list of MDS questions has increased significantly. (Thanks to SPADES!)

MDS Questions That Trigger Payment Penalty If Dashed

Make sure MDS staff have this info. These are the MDS items being collected NOW that will potentially impact FY 2025 Annual Payment Update (APU) Determination. The last column includes all the ADDITIONAL MDS QUESTIONS involved starting 10/1/23. Don’t lose 2%!!

Before we jump into what was “finalized,” let’s look at what we currently have to deal with.

Here are the 16 Measures in place for FY2024:

These measures were discussed in detail HERE, with a quick recap below for the newest 5 of the bunch.

1. Transfer of Health Information (Provider and Patient) Measures: These 2 MDS measures above were on hold during the PHE and were also awaiting changes to the MDS. Now that we have the “new” MDS version starting 10/1/23, this measure is in full swing. Items are on the PPS DC MDS and are tied to reconciled medication lists. Data collection starts 10/1/23, with public display beginning with October 2025 Care Compare refresh.
2. SNF Healthcare-Associated Infections Requiring Hospitalization measure (SNF HAI): This outcome measure collects data for infections acquired in the SNF resulting in re-hospitalization and is publicly reported.
3. COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (HCP): This process measure tracks COVID-19 vaccination coverage among HCP in the SNF setting and publishes rates on Care Compare for the public (FY2025). 2% Part A rate penalty for not reporting data to CDC’s NHSN.
4. Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel: Data collection began 10/1/22 and will be collected annually. 2% Part A rate penalty for not reporting data to CDC’s NHSN.
5. Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements (SPADES): CMS adopted SPADES for multiple categories collected on the MDS. Link to Measure Detail. Data collection will start 10/1/23 on selected SPADES with new MDS Item Set Questions. 2% Part A rate penalty for not reporting.

Greater Chance For 2% Payment Penalty

As the list of measures continues to grow, there is a greater chance of missing information and incurring a 2% payment penalty. 

Currently, 80% of MDS assessments need to contain 100% of the SNF QRP required data from the MDS, and SNFs also need to submit 100% of data for the COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination for Healthcare Personnel to the CDC NHSN system. If info is missing either way, the penalty will apply. This does not leave much room for error.

To make this even more challenging going forward…

CMS finalized in the Rule, to increase the required MDS data threshold from 80% to 90% beginning with data collected 1/1/2024, for a payment impact on 10/1/25 (FY2026).

This means SNFs are required to report 100% of the required QM data using the MDS [see the link above for the full list of MDS questions that cannot be dashed] on at least 90% of all assessments submitted from January 1 through December 31, 2024, or risk payment penalty 10/1/25.

Now, On To The New Items….Which Ones Made The Cut?

The Final Rule outlined SNF QRP changes for 2025 and 2026. Though these dates may seem far away, keep in mind that the SNF QRP works in 2 time tables, collecting data NOW for payment impact in the FUTURE. So though we may want to push this information to next year’s to-do list, it needs to be absorbed NOW.

2 of the 3 New Measures Made the Cut and were finalized as proposed:

Discharge Function Score Measure (FY2025)

• Outcome measure from Section GG Self Care and Mobility Technical Report
• Calculated % of Part A residents who meet or exceed DC Function Score
• Uses 10 GG items: Eating, Oral Hygiene, Toileting Hygiene, Roll L/R, Lying to Sit, Sit to Stand, Transfer, Toilet Transfer, Walking 10′ and Walking/Wheeling 50′Calculation recodes missing data to the “most likely value.” This will replace the original GG Measure “Application of Functional Assessment / Care Plan, ” a.k.a Do you have at least 1 Section GG DC Goal set?
• Data collection starts 10/1/2023
• Public display with the October 2024 refresh of Care Compare for CY2023 data

COVID-19 Vaccine: Percent of Patients/Residents “Who Are Up to Date” Measure (FY2026)

• Added MDS items to the DC Item Set to track if residents are “up to date”
• Data collection begins with Part A residents discharged 10/1/24
• Public display of data beginning with October 2025 refresh Care Compare with Q4 2024 data

1 of the 3 Proposed New Measures was not finalized:

CoreQ: Short Stay Discharge Measure (FY2026)

• Targeted Part A short term residents of less than 100 days
• Measures the % of residents discharged in a 6 month period who are satisfied with stay using questionnaire below

In the Final Rule, CMS decided not to move forward with the CoreQ Measure at this time, stating:

“We acknowledge the concerns raised by commenters that the CoreQ: SS DC measure may not have enough questions to adequately measure residents’ satisfaction with the quality of care received by SNFs. We also recognize the concerns raised by commenters that finalizing the CoreQ: SS DC measure would require SNFs to contract with a survey vendor and implement a workflow to create and send a resident information file (RIF) to the vendor on a weekly basis. Therefore, after consideration of the public comments we received on this proposal, we have decided that at this time, we will not finalize the proposal to add the CoreQ: SS DC measure beginning with the FY 2026 SNF QRP.”

1 Measure Modification Finalized

COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel Measure (FY2025)

• Report the number of HCP who are up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations
• Used to say “completed 1st vaccination course,” and will now include boosters
• Data collection starts 10/1/23, Public reporting 10/1/24

3 Measure Removals Finalized (involving Section GG effective FY2025)

1. Admission and Discharge Functional Assessment /Care Plan That Addresses Function (1 DC Goal)
2. Change in Self-Care Score
3. Change in Mobility Score

On to the LAST QM Program….

SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program (SNF VBP)

Since it’s inception, this Program has only had 1 measure….until now…

What is this Program?

The SNF VPB works by reducing Medicare Part A payments to ALL SNFs by 2% and then allows for an opportunity to recoup part of the 2%, an “incentive payment,” by demonstrating success with the established Measure.

Since the start of this Program, there has only been 1 Measure: The SNF 30-Day-All-Cause Readmission Measure, which measures if the resident was readmitted back to the hospital within 30 days of being discharged from the hospital.

This measure will continue to be the only one that impacts payment for FY2024 based on data collected in the past. Remember, the VBP data collection periods typically precede the payment impact year by 2 years, so the key is to focus on the current performance, as it will drive future payment.

As such, there are multiple measures that will begin data collection 10/1/23.

This is the full list of adopted and proposed Measures:

Data Collection for these 4 Measures starts 10/1/23 – Affects payment 10/1/25

• SNF HAI Requiring Hospitalization (Adopted last year)
• Total Nurse Staffing Hours per Resident Day (Adopted last year)
• DC to Community (Adopted last year)
• Total Nursing Staff Turnover (Adopted this year)

and don’t forget the original Measure of this Program, for a total of 5 Measures 10/1/23.

MDS-Based Measures (Data collection 10/1/24 – Affects payment 10/1/26)

• Falls with Major Injury (Includes long stay residents) (Adopted this year). Already a QM in other programs, used in 5 Star and publicly reported.
• Discharge Function Score (Adopted this year). % of residents who meet or exceed expected discharge score using Section GG.

Claims-Based Measures

• # of Hospitalizations per 1,000 long stay resident days (Adopted this year). Already publicly reported and used for 5 Star. Data collection starts 10/1/24
• SNF Within-Stay Potentially Preventable Readmission Measure (FY2028). Replaces the SNFRM with a modification of the previously proposed “SNF Potentially Preventable Readmission After Hospital DC Measure.” Data collection FY2025 and 2026 for payment impact FY2028.

The SNF VBP rule also proposes to increase the amount SNFs are eligible to receive back for “good performance,” and also proposes a “Health Equity Adjustment,” or a bonus, for top performing SNFs that have 20% of dual eligible (Medicare + Medicaid) residents in the period.

This is a great CMS visual graphic explaining the SNF VBP and what impacts FY2024 payment.

SNF VBP FY2024 Fact Sheet – Info Graphic

In Summary

Now is the time to invest in your understanding of the MDS and its relationship to reimbursement, quality measure determination, 5 Star Rating, and public reporting. As you know, the MDS will look a little different on October 1st…and these major changes coming our way are all tied to the Measures discussed above. If you have not yet absorbed the Section GG changes (and removal of Section G), and the impact it will have, this article is a good place to start.

Here are additional key resources:

HERE is a link to the Final Rule. PDF Version

HERE is a link to the CMS Fact Sheet.

PDPM Calculators and Resources HERE

If you have any questions, send them to our Just Ask Q&A Forum and we will reach out to you to get your questions answered.

Thank you for all you are doing to provide the best care to the SNF population!

In your corner,

Dolores

Dolores Montero, PT, DPT, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA

President | Montero Therapy & MDS Resource Team

MonteroTherapyServices.com

Register For Free Webcast: Medicare Part A & B Changes All SNF Therapy & MDS Professionals Need To Know – More Info Here

Rehab Manager Certification Program- Last Class For 2023 Now Open