Update on Efforts to Standardize Assessments Across Provider Types
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has scheduled an Open Door Forum on March 28th to discuss standard assessment elements for four post-acute care settings. As mandated by the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (the IMPACT Act), CMS and its contractor RAND Corporation are development and testing Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Home Health Agencies, LTC Hospitals, and Intermediate Care Facilities.
CMS has defined “standardized patient assessment data” as patient assessment questions and response options that are identical in all four PAC assessment instruments, and to which identical standards and definitions apply. Data elements are the individual assessment items (questions and response codes), not quality measures, although they may be used in existing or future quality measures. CMS points out that the entire assessment for each provider type (e.g., MDS for SNF, OASIS for home care) will not be standardized. Rather, some common items are being added to the four assessments.
To participate on Wed., March 28th from 2 to 3 pm, dial 1-800-837-1935 and enter conference ID # 40-980-15. Presentation slides that will be used are available here.
A transcript and audio recording of this call will be posted to the Special Open Door Forum website here.
Contact: Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8841