While “boothing” at the annual NYAHSA (New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging), we sat down with Marc Zimmet, guru of reimbursement in long term care and owner of Zimmet Healthcare Group. He shared with us some of the most important changes in the proposed Prospective Payment System for Skilled Nursing Facilities (for those of you not in long term care this system determines how nursing homes are reimbursed for Medicare A services).
He also spoke to us about the upcoming change from RUGS III to RUGS IV and the impact this will have on therapists nationwide. The proposal put forth by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) recommends the virtual elimination of concurrent treatment (also known as “dovetailing”) – meaning that patients will receive more one on one therapy intervention to qualify for a rehab service. If the proposal is accepted, strategies for the provision of therapy will change dramatically – resulting in increased costs for providing rehab services and possibly resulting in reduced demand for our services. The proposed changes, if adopted will take effect in 2010, so watch our blog for more details!
For those of you who want to go right to the source, check out the Federal Register dated May 12, 2009.
-Lisa & Marilyn
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