Skilled Nursing providers would see a 1.4% increase in Medicare payments in 2014 as the result of a new proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services.
The proposed rule would update the Medicare payment rates for skilled nursing facilities for fiscal year 2014 by raising the rate to providers by 1.4%.
The rule also “would revise and rebase the SNF market basket, and would make certain technical and conforming revisions in the regulations text,” according to the notice. “This proposed rule also includes a proposed policy for reporting the SNF market basket forecast error correction in certain limited circumstances and a proposed new item for the Minimum Data Set (MDS), Version 3.0.”
Provider advocates under the The American Health Care Association said they were pleased with the update but are studying the potential impact.
“AHCA appreciates the market basket update that increases our rates by 1.4 percent,” said AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson. “We are studying the forecast error, market basket revision and proposed therapy changes. After further review, we will comment on their impact. Skilled nursing has sustained too many cuts. We look forward to continuing to work with CMS to make sure that everyone has access to high quality care.”
The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register with a request for comments closing July 1.
The new rate would go into effect for fiscal year 2014, beginning October 1.
Written by Elizabeth Ecker
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