Five-Star Measure Specification Changes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is changing the technical specification for a measure used to calculate the Quality Measure Domain of the Five-Star Quality Rating System for the October refresh. The Short-Stay New or Worsening Pressure Ulcers technical specifications will now be the technical specifications for the Short-Stay Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) measure, Changes in Skin Integrity Post-Acute Care: Pressure Ulcer/Injury. The major differences in the specification will be what is included in the numerator and covariates. The numerator will now include unstageable ulcers, and the covariate for functional ability will use Section GG instead of Section G from the Minimum Data Set (MDS). SNFs will see the new changes calculated in their Nursing Home Compare Five-Star Ratings of Nursing Homes Provider Rating Report for October 2020.

Contact: Susan Chenail, schenail@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383 ext. 116