Standardized post-acute care (PAC) assessment data for quality, payment, and discharge planning
Requirement for standardized assessment data
In general
The Secretary shall—
require under the applicable reporting provisions post-acute care providers (as defined in paragraph (2)(A)) to report—
standardized patient assessment data in accordance with subsection (b);
data on quality measures under subsection (c)(1); and
data on resource use and other measures under subsection (d)(1);
require data described in subparagraph (A) to be standardized and interoperable so as to allow for the exchange of such data among such post-acute care providers and other providers and the use by such providers of such data that has been so exchanged, including by using common standards and definitions, in order to provide access to longitudinal information for such providers to facilitate coordinated care and improved Medicare beneficiary outcomes; and
in accordance with subsections (b)(1) and (c)(2), modify PAC assessment instruments (as defined in paragraph (2)(B)) applicable to post-acute care providers to—
provide for the submission of standardized patient assessment data under this subchapter with respect to such providers; and
enable comparison of such assessment data across all such providers to whom such data are applicable.
Definitions
For purposes of this section:
Post-acute care (PAC) provider
The terms “post-acute care provider” and “PAC provider” mean—
a home health agency;
a skilled nursing facility;
an inpatient rehabilitation facility; and
a long-term care hospital (other than a hospital classified under section 1395ww(d)(1)(B)(vi) of this title).
PAC assessment instrument
The term “PAC assessment instrument” means—
in the case of home health agencies, the instrument used for purposes of reporting and assessment with respect to the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS), as described in sections 484.55 and 484.250 of title 42, the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, or any other instrument used with respect to home health agencies for such purposes;
in the case of skilled nursing facilities, the resident’s assessment under section 1395i–3(b)(3) of this title;
in the case of inpatient rehabilitation facilities, any Medicare beneficiary assessment instrument established by the Secretary for purposes of section 1395ww(j) of this title; and
in the case of long-term care hospitals, the Medicare beneficiary assessment instrument used with respect to such hospitals for the collection of data elements necessary to calculate quality measures as described in the
Applicable reporting provision
The term “applicable reporting provision” means—
for home health agencies, section 1395fff(b)(3)(B)(v) of this title;
for skilled nursing facilities, section 1395yy(e)(6) of this title;
for inpatient rehabilitation facilities, section 1395ww(j)(7) of this title; and
for long-term care hospitals, section 1395ww(m)(5) of this title.
PAC payment system
The term “PAC payment system” means—
with respect to a home health agency, the prospective payment system under section 1395fff of this title;
with respect to a skilled nursing facility, the prospective payment system under section 1395yy(e) of this title;
with respect to an inpatient rehabilitation facility, the prospective payment system under section 1395ww(j) of this title; and
with respect to a long-term care hospital, the prospective payment system under section 1395ww(m) of this title.
Specified application date
The term “specified application date” means the following:
Quality measures
In the case of quality measures under subsection (c)(1)—
with respect to the domain described in subsection (c)(1)(A) (relating to functional status, cognitive function, and changes in function and cognitive function)—
for PAC providers described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (2)(A),
for PAC providers described in clause (iv) of such paragraph,
for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph,
with respect to the domain described in subsection (c)(1)(B) (relating to skin integrity and changes in skin integrity)—
for PAC providers described in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(A),
for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph,
with respect to the domain described in subsection (c)(1)(C) (relating to medication reconciliation)—
for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph,
for PAC providers described in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of such paragraph,
with respect to the domain described in subsection (c)(1)(D) (relating to incidence of major falls)—
for PAC providers described in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(A),
for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph,
with respect to the domain described in subsection (c)(1)(E) (relating to accurately communicating the existence of and providing for the transfer of health information and care preferences)—
for PAC providers described in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(A),
for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph,
Resource use and other measures
In the case of resource use and other measures under subsection (d)(1)—
for PAC providers described in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(A),
for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph,
Medicare beneficiary
Standardized patient assessment data
Requirement for reporting assessment data
In general
Standardized patient assessment data described
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the standardized patient assessment data described in this subparagraph is data required for at least the quality measures described in subsection (c)(1) and that is with respect to the following categories:
Functional status, such as mobility and self care at admission to a PAC provider and before discharge from a PAC provider.
Cognitive function, such as ability to express ideas and to understand, and mental status, such as depression and dementia.
Special services, treatments, and interventions, such as need for ventilator use, dialysis, chemotherapy, central line placement, and total parenteral nutrition.
Medical conditions and co-morbidities, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, and pressure ulcers.
Impairments, such as incontinence and an impaired ability to hear, see, or swallow.
Other categories deemed necessary and appropriate by the Secretary.
Alignment of claims data with standardized patient assessment data
Replacement of certain existing data
Clarification
Quality measures
Requirement for reporting quality measures
Not later than the specified application date, as applicable to measures and PAC providers, the Secretary shall specify quality measures on which PAC providers are required under the applicable reporting provisions to submit standardized patient assessment data described in subsection (b)(1) and other necessary data specified by the Secretary. Such measures shall be with respect to at least the following domains:
Functional status, cognitive function, and changes in function and cognitive function.
Skin integrity and changes in skin integrity.
Medication reconciliation.
Incidence of major falls.
Accurately communicating the existence of and providing for the transfer of health information and care preferences of an individual to the individual, family caregiver of the individual, and providers of services furnishing items and services to the individual, when the individual transitions—
from a hospital or critical access hospital to another applicable setting, including a PAC provider or the home of the individual; or
from a PAC provider to another applicable setting, including a different PAC provider, a hospital, a critical access hospital, or the home of the individual.
Reporting through PAC assessment instruments
In general
Limitation
Adjustments
In general
Risk adjustment
Resource use and other measures
Requirement for resource use and other measures
Not later than the specified application date, as applicable to measures and PAC providers, the Secretary shall specify resource use and other measures on which PAC providers are required under the applicable reporting provisions to submit any necessary data specified by the Secretary, which may include standardized assessment data in addition to claims data. Such measures shall be with respect to at least the following domains:
Resource use measures, including total estimated Medicare spending per beneficiary.
Discharge to community.
Measures to reflect all-condition risk-adjusted potentially preventable hospital readmission rates.
Aligning methodology adjustments for resource use measures
Period of time
Geographic and other adjustments
Medicare spending per beneficiary
Adjustments
In general
Risk adjustment
Measurement implementation phases; selection of quality measures and resource use and other measures
Measurement implementation phases
In the case of quality measures specified under subsection (c)(1) and resource use and other measures specified under subsection (d)(1), the provisions of this section shall be implemented in accordance with the following phases:
Initial implementation phase
The initial implementation phase, with respect to such a measure, shall, in accordance with subsections (c) and (d), as applicable, consist of—
measure specification, including informing the public of the measure’s numerator, denominator, exclusions, and any other aspects the Secretary determines necessary;
data collection, including, in the case of quality measures, requiring PAC providers to report data elements needed to calculate such a measure; and
data analysis, including, in the case of resource use and other measures, the use of claims data to calculate such a measure.
Second implementation phase
Third implementation phase
Consensus-based entity
In general
Exception
Treatment of application of pre-rulemaking process (measure applications partnership process)
In general
Exceptions
Expedited procedures
Option to waive provisions
Feedback reports to PAC providers
In general
Frequency
Public reporting of PAC provider performance
In general
Opportunity to review
Timing
Coordination with existing programs
Such procedures shall provide that data and information described in paragraph (1) with respect to quality measures and resource use and other measures under subsections (c)(1) and (d)(1) shall be made publicly available consistent with the following provisions:
In the case of home health agencies, section 1395fff(b)(3)(B)(v)(III) of this title.
In the case of skilled nursing facilities, sections 1395i–3(i) and 1396r(i) of this title.
In the case of inpatient rehabilitation facilities, section 1395ww(j)(7)(E) of this title.
In the case of long-term care hospitals, section 1395ww(m)(5)(E) of this title.
Removing, suspending, or adding measures
In general
Exception
Use of standardized assessment data, quality measures, and resource use and other measures to inform discharge planning and incorporate patient preference
In general
Not later than
treatment preferences of patients; and
goals of care of patients.
Discharge planning
Clarification
Stakeholder input
Funding
Limitation
Non-application of Paperwork Reduction Act
Source
(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XVIII, § 1899B, as added Pub. L. 113–185, § 2(a),Notes
References in Text
Amendments
Improving Payment Accuracy Under the PAC Payment Systems and Other Medicare Payment Systems
Studies and reports of effect of certain information on quality and resource use.—
Study using existing medicare data.—
Study.—
The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subsection referred to as the ‘Secretary’) shall conduct a study that examines the effect of individuals’ socioeconomic status on quality measures and resource use and other measures for individuals under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) (such as to recognize that less healthy individuals may require more intensive interventions). The study shall use information collected on such individuals in carrying out such program, such as urban and rural location, eligibility for Medicaid under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (recognizing and accounting for varying Medicaid eligibility across States), and eligibility for benefits under the supplemental security income (SSI) program. The Secretary shall carry out this paragraph acting through the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
Report.—
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Study using other data.—
Study.—
The Secretary shall conduct a study that examines the impact of risk factors, such as those described in section 1848(p)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(p)(3)), race, health literacy, limited English proficiency (LEP), and Medicare beneficiary activation, on quality measures and resource use and other measures under the Medicare program (such as to recognize that less healthy individuals may require more intensive interventions). In conducting such study the Secretary may use existing Federal data and collect such additional data as may be necessary to complete the study.
Report.—
Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under clause (i).
Examination of data in conducting studies.—
In conducting the studies under subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Secretary shall examine what non-Medicare data sets, such as data from the American Community Survey (ACS), can be useful in conducting the types of studies under such paragraphs and how such data sets that are identified as useful can be coordinated with Medicare administrative data in order to improve the overall data set available to do such studies and for the administration of the Medicare program.
Recommendations to account for information in payment adjustment mechanisms.—
If the studies conducted under subparagraphs (A) and (B) find a relationship between the factors examined in the studies and quality measures and resource use and other measures, then the Secretary shall also provide recommendations for how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should—
obtain access to the necessary data (if such data is not already being collected) on such factors, including recommendations on how to address barriers to the Centers in accessing such data; and
account for such factors—
in quality measures, resource use measures, and other measures under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (including such measures specified under subsections (c) and (d) of section 1899B of such Act [42 U.S.C. 1395lll], as added by subsection (a)); and
in determining payment adjustments based on such measures in other applicable provisions of such title.
Funding.—
There are hereby appropriated to the Secretary from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i) and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t) (in proportions determined appropriate by the Secretary) to carry out this paragraph $6,000,000, to remain available until expended.
CMS activities.—
In general.—
Taking into account the relevant studies conducted and recommendations made in reports under paragraph (1) and, as appropriate, other information, including information collected before completion of such studies and recommendations, the Secretary, on an ongoing basis, shall, as the Secretary determines appropriate and based on an individual’s health status and other factors—
assess appropriate adjustments to quality measures, resource use measures, and other measures under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) (including measures specified in subsections (c) and (d) of section 1899B of such Act, as added by subsection (a)); and
assess and implement appropriate adjustments to payments under such title based on measures described in clause (i).
Accessing data.—
The Secretary shall collect or otherwise obtain access to the data necessary to carry out this paragraph through existing and new data sources.
Periodic analyses.—
The Secretary shall carry out periodic analyses, at least every 3 years, based on the factors referred to in subparagraph (A) so as to monitor changes in possible relationships.
Funding.—
There are hereby appropriated to the Secretary from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i) and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t) (in proportions determined appropriate by the Secretary) to carry out this paragraph $10,000,000, to remain available until expended.
Strategic plan for accessing race and ethnicity data.—
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [