The Nursing Home Network hosted by LeadingAge convened yesterday to discuss various happenings. While things have been relatively quiet during the holiday season, nursing home providers can expect to see some new things coming into effect such as the Nursing Home Transparency final rule. This rule goes into effect January 16th, unless it takes CMS longer to update form 855A. The rule was essentially finalized as proposed and will impact both Medicare and Medicaid certified facilities. Facilities who are Medicaid only providers will receive guidance from their state agencies on how to submit the additional information required by the rule.
Nursing home providers can also expect to see a cultural competency rule sometime in the future. The rule is currently sitting at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and will require all provider types to adhere to revised Conditions of Participations, Requirements of Participation, and Conditions of Coverage. The following areas would be impacted by the rule:
- Governance
- Resident Rights (nondiscrimination and accessibility)
- Clinical Quality Standards
- Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement
- Staff Training
- Care Planning and Discharge Planning
The rule is not expected to change much of the conditions currently followed by nursing facility providers, but rather bring additional provider types up to the same standard.
