“[UPDATED] CMS to reward higher-performing nursing homes with ‘streamlined’ reviews, favorable online icon,” by James M. Berklan, McKnights LTC News
Quote:
“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Thursday morning that it will be streamlining the review process for better performing nursing homes and also reward them with a favorable icon on the public-facing Care Compare website. About 1 in 8 (12%) of nursing homes will qualify for the new risk-based survey initially, officials said. The first will take place Sept. 8, which is the same month the new icon will be initiated. … The approach is in direct contrast to the marking poorer performing facilities with a negative icon on the Compare website, which created controversy in 2019.”
LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform:
Acknowledging nursing facility excellence and relieving their scrutiny may be a good thing, but be wary how CMS handles lesser performing SNFs. The risk is exacerbating the two-tier nature of America’s LTC system: excellent care at top-tier places with fewer Medicaid residents and more private-pay and Medicare census vs. poor performing, high-Medicaid facilities with fewer private payers and Medicare patients to offset Medicaid losses.