CMS released memo QSO-23-21-NH on September 20th that outlines changes to Care Compare coming with the April 2024 refresh. The changes are largely due to the October 1st implementation of the new Minimum Data Set. Due to the removal of Section G and the resulting transition from RUGS-IV case mix methodology to a PDPM-based methodology, staffing measures and 3 quality measures will be frozen beginning with the April 2024 refresh. Staffing measures will unfreeze with the July 2024 refresh. One quality measure will unfreeze in October 2024 and the remaining QMs will unfreeze with the January 2025 refresh. Separately, CMS announced a change to staffing measure penalties in which providers who fail to submit PBJ data will receive the lowest possible scores for staffing ratings beginning in April 2024 (remember that the ratings will be frozen until July 2024). More information is available in the Nursing Home Care Compare Five Star Quality Rating System Technical Users Guide.

Updated clarification: Due to the implementation of the updated MDS on October 1st, some staffing and quality measures on Care Compare will be frozen with the April 2024 refresh. Also with the April 2024 refresh, CMS will implement a new policy in which nursing homes that fail to submit PBJ data or that submit erroneous data will have the lowest score possible applied to their turnover measures, rather than having the turnover measure suppressed as is currently the policy. CMS clarified on an association call on September 26th that with the April 2024 refresh, staffing level measures will be frozen but turnover measures will not be frozen. The new lowest score policy will be applied to the turnover measures, which will then be calculated with the frozen staffing level measures to produce the Staffing Domain Rating.

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Kylee Childs
Kylee Childs, MSW, is the Director of Government Affairs.Since joining the association in 2023, she continues to be a fierce and resourceful advocate for aging services in Kansas. Her professional focus has always been service to others through advocacy. Kylee has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a bachelor's degree in criminology with a minor in Conflict Analysis and Trauma studies from Kansas State University, and a certificate in Grant Proposal Writing from Fort Hays State University. With a professional background in law enforcement and child welfare, and a successful 2023 legislative practicum with the Children's Alliance of Kansas, she brings rich professional experience to her role as Director of Government Affairs, and a front-line perspective on the needs of health and human services providers in our state. When not working, she's spending time with her two daughters. You can reach Kylee directly at 785.670.8051.

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