With the publication of this year’s update for the PPS rates for IRFs in August 5, 2011 edition of the Federal Register, CARF accredited organization’s and others will need to select new and/or revise existing performance improvement monitors for discharges on or after October 1, 2011 and before September 30, 2012.
The final rule includes a final revision and rebasing of the rehabilitation, psychiatric and long term care hospital market basket, in addition to the two initial quality measures for quality data reporting starting in FY 2014 with a third quality measure under development (“30 Day Comprehensive All Cause Risk Standardized Readmission”).
CARF accredited IRFs, as well as all others will be expected to implement the following quality improvement processes over the next few months.
Quality Measures Changes to the IRF PAI
CMS adopted the two proposed quality measures and is developing a third quality measure.
The three measures are:
1. Percent of Patient with New or Worsened Pressure Ulcers, NQF #0678. The CMS-adopted measure is from the MDS 3.0. The IRF PAI is being amended as proposed by eliminating the current voluntary quality indicators and replacing them with the proposed pressure ulcer measure. The revised IRF PAI can be downloaded from http://www.cms.gov/InpatientRehabFacPPS/04_IRFPAI.asp#TopOfPage
2. Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections will be reported to the CDC National Health Safety Network (NHSN). The measure is CAUTI rate per 1,000 urinary catheter days. Details can be found http://www.cms.gov/LTCH-IRFHospice-Quality-Reporting/
3. A “30 –day comprehensive All-Cause Risk-Standardized Readmission Measure” is being considered. CMS anticipates using IRF claims data to construct this measure.
More information on the rule can be accessed on the CMS website at www.cms.hhs.gov/InpatientRehabFacPPS.
BRB Consulting offers guidance and support in establishing quality improvement efforts, contact us for more information.