Breaking News!
Breaking news!
In the April 4th update to the CMS PDPM page, the biggest change noted is that CMS has updated the Frequently Asked Questions to correct the contradictory statement regarding reporting of the therapy minutes at the end of the PPS stay in regards to the Interrupted Stay policy.
In short, the update now states that you do count all minutes from the original start of the PPS stay, including prior to the interrupted stay leave. A big relief to those who are trying to create compliance systems within these new regulations:
13.14 How should the SNF count total volume, mode, and type of therapy in section O of the MDS for purposes of the discharge assessment when a patient’s stay included one or more interrupted stays? In the case of an interrupted stay as defined under the Interrupted Stay Policy (e.g. where a patient is discharged and then readmitted to the same SNF before midnight of the third day of the interruption window), SNFs should report the therapies furnished since the beginning of the Part A stay, including all parts of an interrupted stay in section O of the MDS for each discharge assessment.
Other minor clean ups are found in the FAQ.
Of note, it seems that CMS has softened its position on a hard end to RUGS III and IV support. CMS now reports no definitive end to support via the OSA MDS type.
14.10 How long will the optional assessment OSA be in place?
CMS has removed: “The OSA is a temporary assessment and will only be supported by CMS for FY 2020 (October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020).”
And replaced with:
"There is currently no definitive timeline for retiring the OSA. Once states are able to collect the data necessary to consider a transition to PDPM, CMS will evaluate the continued need for the OSA, in consultation with the states."
14.13 Will CMS support RUG-III/IV from 10/1/19-9/30/20? If so, how? CMS will continue to report the RUG-III and RUG-IV Health Insurance Prospective Payment System (HIPPS) codes, as requested by the state, until September 30, 2020 on the 5‑day PPS, OBRA comprehensive and OBRA quarterly assessment types. If a State requires the calculation of RUG‑III or RUG‑IV more frequently, the State may require its providers to submit the OSA at time points determined by the State. Beginning October 1, 2020, states must use the OSA as the basis for calculating RUG-III and RUG-IV HIPPS codes.