SNF WQIP PY2 (2024) Updates Letter
| PY2 (2024)
| The SNF WQIP PY2 (2024) Updates Letter provides a list of changes to SNF WQIP PY2 (2024). | 1/31/2024
|
SNF WQIP PL 24-006 Weight Loss Measure for PY2 (2024)
| PY2 (2024)
| This policy letter (PL) outlines the updated and shortened measurement period for Percent of Residents Who Lose Too Much Weight, Long Stay measure. Performance during the shorter measurement period will continue to have the same weight in the overall WQIP score.
| 9/23/2024
|
SNF WQIP PL 25-001 Second SNF WQIP Weight Loss Measure for PY2 (2024) SUPERSEDES PL 24-006
| PY2 (2024)
| To prevent penalizing facilities due to a shorter measurement period, DHCS will adjust how points are awarded for the LTMW measure. Facilities will receive the higher score of the following two options: one based on the shortened LTMW measurement period (April 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024) and the other based on the full PY2 measurement period (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024). For example, if a facility’s original score for the LTMW measure for the full PY2 measurement period was 6 points, but their score for the shortened LTMW measurement period was 2 points, they would receive the higher of the two scores, which would be 6 points.
| 1/30/2025
|
SNF WQIP PL 25-002 MCP Webinar Timing Guidance and Payment Timeline
| PY2 (2024)
| This policy letter (PL) provides guidance on the scheduling of Managed Care Plan (MCP) webinars and payment timeline for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Workforce and Quality Incentive Program (WQIP). Pursuant to All Plan Letter (APL) 25-002, each MCP must hold a webinar twice per program year for all SNF WQIP-eligible Network Providers subject to additional guidance from DHCS regarding the required timing, content, and duration of webinars. This PL provides additional direction and guidelines on this requirement.
| 3/28/2025
|
PL 25-004 SNF WQIP Staffing Turnover Metric Updated Methodology
| PY2 (2024)
| This Policy Letter (PL) outlines the plan to update the Staffing Turnover metric methodology in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Workforce and Quality Incentive Program (WQIP) for program year (PY) 2 (calendar year [CY] 2024). In the July 2024 Care Compare data refresh, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) changed the Staffing Turnover methodology to define individuals who no longer work at a facility as those with a period of at least 90 consecutive days during which they did not work at all. This is an update from the previous methodology, which used a gap period of 60 days. To mitigate the potential negative impact on facilities caused by the CMS’s updated methodology, DHCS will adopt a flexible approach of awarding facilities with the better of the two scores that they would earn using the prospective benchmarks and retrospective benchmarks. This approach will allow facilities to earn the highest possible points based on the final PY 2 rates and it will avoid penalizing facilities due to CMS’ methodology change.
| 4/14/2025
|
PL 25-005 SNF WQIP CY 2024 SNF WQIP Interim Payment Report Staffing Turnover
| PY 2 (2024)
| This Policy Letter (PL) outlines the potential updated methodology for the forthcoming Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Workforce and Quality Incentive Program (WQIP) Interim Payment for Program Year 2 (PY2, 2024). DHCS and HSAG assessed the potential impact of using limited data for MDS Data Completeness using PY1 (2023) rates. HSAG limited the look forward period for the PY1 (2023) MDS data to assessments submitted through August 31, 2023 (rather than November 30, 2023, for the full look forward quarter) to mirror the MDS data we currently have available for PY2 (2024). After limiting the data for PY1 (2023), most facilities were not impacted, and no facilities were negatively impacted.
DHCS will utilize MDS data currently available for CY2024 (i.e., assessments submitted with submission dates through August 31, 2024) to ensure that the SNF WQIP Interim Payment can move forward, despite the lack of MDS data availability. Please note, the limited data for MDS Data Completeness (i.e. assessments submitted with submission dates through August 31, 2024) will be used in the PY2 Final Report as well to avoid overpayment. DHCS anticipates disseminating and publishing the PY 2 (CY2024) SNF WQIP Interim Payment Report by the end of May 2025.
| 5/13/2025
|