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September 13, 2011
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September 13, 2011

Skilled-Nursing Facilities / Distinct-Part Nursing Facilities

Overview

Skilled Nursing Facilities / Distinct-Part Nursing Facilities

December 7, 2008

Skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) have the staff and equipment to provide skilled nursing, medical management and therapy services to individuals, on a 24-hour basis, who do not require high-intensity services provided in the hospital setting.

CHA News Article

Hospital Patients, Family Members Speak Out About Damaging Medi-Cal Budget Cuts
New video series captures impact on frail, elderly patients

Image of Hospital Patients, Family Members Speak Out About Damaging Medi-Cal Budget Cuts
May 20, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell

As budget discussions begin to kick into high gear following last week’s release of the May revision to the proposed 2013-14 state budget, those most directly affected by the pending Medi-Cal payment cuts are speaking out. In a compelling new series of documentary-style videos produced by CHA, the family members of those who work, live and depend on hospital-based skilled-nursing facilities across the state are sharing their personal stories about the vital health care services at risk from the failure to reverse deep and damaging Medi-Cal rate cuts.

CHA News Article

CHA Releases Report on Economic Impact of Medi-Cal Cuts
Cuts to DP/SNFs have far-reaching economic consequences

May 15, 2013 Anne McLeod Patricia Blaisdell

CHA’s analysis of the impact of pending cuts to reimbursement rates for hospital-based skilled-nursing facilities and other providers reveals that as many as 36,000 jobs could be lost statewide if the cuts go through as planned. CHA’s recently released report, The Economic Consequences of Hospital-Based Skilled Nursing Facility Medi-Cal Cuts, found that the overall ripple effect stemming from the cuts could result in a $2 billion erosion to the state’s economy.

“Planned retroactive reimbursement cuts to Medi-Cal will have a devastating impact from a health care perspective,” the report states. “But the consequences go far beyond the nuts and bolts of health care services. These cuts will also be a massive job killer with a statewide economic aftershock.”

A copy of the report is attached.

CHA News Article

CMS Issues Proposed Rule for SNF Prospective Payment System

May 2, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell Alyssa Keefe

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the proposed rule for skilled-nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2014. Overall, CMS estimates that payments to SNFs would increase 1.4 percent, or approximately $500 million. The new rates would apply to services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries during FFY 2014, beginning with discharges on or after Oct. 1, 2013. CMS also proposes to add to the minimum data set an item to record the number of distinct calendar days of therapy provided by all rehabilitation disciplines, and clarifies that the low rehab resource utilization group category requires three distinct calendar therapy days. CHA will provide a more detailed summary, including facility-specific DataSuite reports, of the proposal in the coming weeks and will work with members to develop comments, which are due by July 1. The proposed rule is attached.

CHA News Article

Members Receive Toolkit for DP/SNF Advocacy

April 29, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell Tracy Campbell

As part of its comprehensive strategy to highlight the impact of rate cuts to services provided by distinct-part skilled-nursing facilities (DP/SNF), CHA has developed and distributed a media toolkit to DP/SNF member facilities. The toolkit contains an advocacy handout, fact sheet and FAQs as well as templates that can be customized, including a support letter, newsletter article and letter to the editor. Designed to help members participate in grassroots advocacy that engages community and opinion leaders and raises public awareness of the devastating impact of the cuts, the toolkit is part of a broad CHA campaign to build legislative support for AB 900 (Alejo, D-Salinas) and SB 640 (Lara, D-Bell Gardens).

Toolkit materials are available at www.calhospital.org/reverse-cuts-toolkit.

Resource

Help Stop Drastic Funding Cuts for Skilled-Nursing Care
CHA Member Toolkit

Image of Help Stop Drastic Funding Cuts for Skilled-Nursing Care
April 26, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell

CHA has created a toolkit to help members gain allies in the fight against pending Medi-Cal cuts and impact the legislative and budget negotiations taking place in Sacramento. The toolkit is part of a comprehensive grassroots advocacy effort to defeat these cuts.

CHA News Article

Videos Demonstrate Impact of DP/SNF Rate Cut

April 24, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell Tracy Campbell

CHA has produced several videos featuring member distinct-part skilled-nursing facilities (DP/SNFs) and the impact of pending cuts to reimbursement rates. Featuring patients and families — as well as employees, physicians and others — the videos were developed to illustrate the real-life impact of the cuts, which will lead to reimbursement reductions of 25 percent or more. 

CHA News Article

Broad Alliance of Groups Urges Reversing Cuts to DP/SNFs
Press Conference Draws Strong Support for CHA-Sponsored Bill

Image of Broad Alliance of Groups Urges Reversing Cuts to DP/SNFs
April 10, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell

Hospital executives along with their staff and patients joined a bipartisan coalition of Democrat and Republican legislators, as well as county and labor leaders, at a press conference April 10 to support AB 900 (Alejo, D-Salinas), a CHA-sponsored bill. Citing California’s moral obligation to maintain the safety net for its most vulnerable residents, participants from around the state called on the Legislature to spare hospital-based skilled-nursing facilities from destructive Medi-Cal cuts.

CHA News Article

Press Conference to Highlight CHA-Sponsored Bill
April 10 event will raise awareness of need to rescind rate cuts to DP/SNFs

April 9, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell

A press conference highlighting AB 900 (Alejo, D-Salinas) — a CHA-sponsored bill that would rescind rate cuts to hospital-based skilled-nursing facilities — will be held April 10 at 10 a.m. in room 317 at the State Capitol. The event will include legislators, hospital representatives and others in an attempt to raise awareness of the devastating impact the cuts will have on patients and communities. As the kick-off for CHA’s efforts to build support for AB 900, the press event is part of a grassroots advocacy campaign to engage community and opinion leaders. Other components of the campaign will include member impact videos, a media tool kit and suggestions for additional ways members can participate in legislative advocacy. CHA encourages all members interested in tomorrow’s press conference to attend.

CHA News Article

CHA Announces Campaign to Reverse DP/SNF Cuts

Image of CHA Announces Campaign to Reverse DP/SNF Cuts
March 18, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell Tracy Campbell

CHA has announced a comprehensive public advocacy campaign to highlight the real life impact of pending rate cuts to services provided by distinct-part skilled-nursing facilities. The campaign will engage community and opinion leaders in grassroots advocacy to raise public awareness of the devastating effect the cuts will have and to build legislative support for CHA-sponsored AB 900 (Alejo, D-Salinas), which will halt implementation.

CHA News Article

CDPH Develops LTC HAI Data Collection Tool

February 22, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell BJ Bartleson

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Healthcare Associated Infections Program (HAI) has developed a self-assessment tool for long-term care facilities (LTCFs) to help them collect data and evaluate their infection control practices. The HAI program will also use the online tool to collect and summarize data — aggregated from all LTCFs that volunteer to participate. According to CDPH, the goals of using the tool are to better understand infection control needs and challenges in the long-term care setting and help CDPH plan educational programs and consultative services. The tool was developed in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More information, including a link to the tool, is available in attached CDPH letter.

CHA News Article

CDPH Issues AFL on ‘Small House’ SNF Pilot Program

February 15, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell BJ Bartleson

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued an All Facility Letter (AFL) on the enactment of SB 1228 (Chapter 671, Statutes of 2012), which established the Small House Skilled Nursing Facility (SHSNF) Pilot Program and added SHSNF as a sub-type of SNFs licensed in California. The pilot program allows CDPH to authorize and license up to 10 SHSNFs — health facilities that provide skilled-nursing and supportive care in a small, homelike, residential setting in an apartment, cottage, house, or similar residential unit, to patients whose primary need is skilled-nursing care on an extended basis. For more information on the CDPH announcement, see attached AFL-13-07.

CHA News Article

CDPH Posts MDS Newsletter

January 11, 2013 Patricia Blaisdell BJ Bartleson

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued an All Facility Letter (AFL) to remind skilled-nursing facilities that the December 2012 Minimum Data Set (MDS) newsletter, California MDS Nuggets, has been issued. CDPH encourages SNFs to submit clinical and technical inquiries regarding MDS 3.0 to mdsoasis@cdph.ca.gov. For more information, see attached AFL and newsletter.

CHA News Article

CMS Provides ‘Hand in Hand’ Toolkit to SNFs

December 10, 2012 Patricia Blaisdell

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided all skilled-nursing facilities with a free “Hand in Hand” toolkit that emphasizes abuse prevention and person-centered care for individuals with dementia. The toolkit is designed to help SFNs meet an annual requirement for nurse aide training mandated by the Affordable Care Act. For more information, visit www.cms-handinhandtoolkit.info/Index.aspx.

CHA News Article

CDPH Issues AFL on Dementia, Antipsychotic Drug Use in SNFs

November 27, 2012 Patricia Blaisdell BJ Bartleson

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued an All Facility Letter (AFL) on a national initiative and statewide campaign to improve care for individuals with dementia and reduce the use of antipsychotic medications in skilled-nursing facilities. Participants — including providers, advocates, physicians and government agencies, as well as CHA — will work in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and CDPH. For more information, see attached AFL.

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