The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an informational bulletin to states regarding flexibilities available to enhance payment for nursing facility during the COVID-19 public health emergency to account for increased resident acuity levels and support facility actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
CMS highlighted the ability for states to implement per diem dollar increases to base rates, establish new payment methodologies for isolation centers, temporarily modify existing rate setting methodologies, create new targeted supplemental payments or modify existing payments, or modify bed hold polices to increase the number of leave days or increase payment for bed holds. CMS highlighted actions taken in Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa.
All of the flexibilities described in the informational bulletin would have to be implemented by the state and would be subject to the state’s FMAP.
The full bulletin is available here.
