This is a year of holding your breath in the Long Term Care Industry. Originally, the plan was to implement the MDS 3.0 along with RUGS IV together on October 1, 2010. After the passage of national health care reform it was decided to go ahead with the MDS 3.0 and the changes to concurrent therapy, but hold off on RUGS IV until October 1, 2011. Now, there is a change again.
The long term care industry is awaiting the passage of the "American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act "extenders" which would ensure that RUGS-IV and the MDS 3.0 would be implemented together. Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader, hopes to get the "extenders" bill passed by the Memorial Day recess. If it is not passed, CMS plans to retroactively adjust the rates to reflect a hybrid RUGS III system which includes the changes to concurrent therapy, the existing 53 group RUGS III system along with the new MDS 3.0 tool. We will be closely monitoring this bill.
Be sure to attend our continuing education event "Thriving and Surviving Under 2010/2011 Changes in Long Term Care: A Guide for Rehab Managers" on Thursday evening, July 15th. It will incorporate the most recent changes expected in October and demonstrate strategies to ensure financial success under the evolving systems.
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