42 USC 1395lll - Standardized post-acute care (PAC) assessment data for quality, payment, and discharge planning

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 02, 2024

§ 1395lll.

Standardized post-acute care (PAC) assessment data for quality, payment, and discharge planning

(a)

Requirement for standardized assessment data

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall—

(A)

require under the applicable reporting provisions post-acute care providers (as defined in paragraph (2)(A)) to report—

(i)

standardized patient assessment data in accordance with subsection (b);

(ii)

data on quality measures under subsection (c)(1); and

(iii)

data on resource use and other measures under subsection (d)(1);

(B)

require data described in subparagraph (A) to be standardized and interoperable so as to allow for the exchange of such data among such post-acute care providers and other providers and the use by such providers of such data that has been so exchanged, including by using common standards and definitions, in order to provide access to longitudinal information for such providers to facilitate coordinated care and improved Medicare beneficiary outcomes; and

(C)

in accordance with subsections (b)(1) and (c)(2), modify PAC assessment instruments (as defined in paragraph (2)(B)) applicable to post-acute care providers to—

(i)

provide for the submission of standardized patient assessment data under this subchapter with respect to such providers; and

(ii)

enable comparison of such assessment data across all such providers to whom such data are applicable.

(2)

Definitions

For purposes of this section:

(A)

Post-acute care (PAC) provider

The terms “post-acute care provider” and “PAC provider” mean—

(i)

a home health agency;

(ii)

a skilled nursing facility;

(iii)

an inpatient rehabilitation facility; and

(iv)

a long-term care hospital (other than a hospital classified under section 1395ww(d)(1)(B)(vi) of this title).

(B)

PAC assessment instrument

The term “PAC assessment instrument” means—

(i)

in the case of home health agencies, the instrument used for purposes of reporting and assessment with respect to the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS), as described in sections 484.55 and 484.250 of title 42, the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, or any other instrument used with respect to home health agencies for such purposes;

(ii)

in the case of skilled nursing facilities, the resident’s assessment under section 1395i–3(b)(3) of this title;

(iii)

in the case of inpatient rehabilitation facilities, any Medicare beneficiary assessment instrument established by the Secretary for purposes of section 1395ww(j) of this title; and

(iv)

in the case of long-term care hospitals, the Medicare beneficiary assessment instrument used with respect to such hospitals for the collection of data elements necessary to calculate quality measures as described in the August 18, 2011, Federal Register (76 Fed. Reg. 51754–51755), including for purposes of section 1395ww(m)(5)(C) of this title, or any other instrument used with respect to such hospitals for assessment purposes.

(C)

Applicable reporting provision

The term “applicable reporting provision” means—

(i)

for home health agencies, section 1395fff(b)(3)(B)(v) of this title;

(ii)

for skilled nursing facilities, section 1395yy(e)(6) of this title;

(iii)

for inpatient rehabilitation facilities, section 1395ww(j)(7) of this title; and

(iv)

for long-term care hospitals, section 1395ww(m)(5) of this title.

(D)

PAC payment system

The term “PAC payment system” means—

(i)

with respect to a home health agency, the prospective payment system under section 1395fff of this title;

(ii)

with respect to a skilled nursing facility, the prospective payment system under section 1395yy(e) of this title;

(iii)

with respect to an inpatient rehabilitation facility, the prospective payment system under section 1395ww(j) of this title; and

(iv)

with respect to a long-term care hospital, the prospective payment system under section 1395ww(m) of this title.

(E)

Specified application date

The term “specified application date” means the following:

(i)

Quality measures

In the case of quality measures under subsection (c)(1)—

(I)

with respect to the domain described in subsection (c)(1)(A) (relating to functional status, cognitive function, and changes in function and cognitive function)—

(aa)

for PAC providers described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (2)(A), October 1, 2016;

(bb)

for PAC providers described in clause (iv) of such paragraph, October 1, 2018; and

(cc)

for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph, January 1, 2019;

(II)

with respect to the domain described in subsection (c)(1)(B) (relating to skin integrity and changes in skin integrity)—

(aa)

for PAC providers described in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(A), October 1, 2016; and

(bb)

for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph, January 1, 2017;

(III)

with respect to the domain described in subsection (c)(1)(C) (relating to medication reconciliation)—

(aa)

for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph, January 1, 2017; and

(bb)

for PAC providers described in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of such paragraph, October 1, 2018;

(IV)

with respect to the domain described in subsection (c)(1)(D) (relating to incidence of major falls)—

(aa)

for PAC providers described in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(A), October 1, 2016; and

(bb)

for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph, January 1, 2019; and

(V)

with respect to the domain described in subsection (c)(1)(E) (relating to accurately communicating the existence of and providing for the transfer of health information and care preferences)—

(aa)

for PAC providers described in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(A), October 1, 2018; and

(bb)

for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph, January 1, 2019.

(ii)

Resource use and other measures

In the case of resource use and other measures under subsection (d)(1)—

(I)

for PAC providers described in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(A), October 1, 2016; and

(II)

for PAC providers described in clause (i) of such paragraph, January 1, 2017.

(F)

Medicare beneficiary

(b)

Standardized patient assessment data

(1)

Requirement for reporting assessment data

(A)

In general

(B)

Standardized patient assessment data described

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the standardized patient assessment data described in this subparagraph is data required for at least the quality measures described in subsection (c)(1) and that is with respect to the following categories:

(i)

Functional status, such as mobility and self care at admission to a PAC provider and before discharge from a PAC provider.

(ii)

Cognitive function, such as ability to express ideas and to understand, and mental status, such as depression and dementia.

(iii)

Special services, treatments, and interventions, such as need for ventilator use, dialysis, chemotherapy, central line placement, and total parenteral nutrition.

(iv)

Medical conditions and co-morbidities, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, and pressure ulcers.

(v)

Impairments, such as incontinence and an impaired ability to hear, see, or swallow.

(vi)

Other categories deemed necessary and appropriate by the Secretary.

(2)

Alignment of claims data with standardized patient assessment data

(3)

Replacement of certain existing data

(4)

Clarification

(c)

Quality measures

(1)

Requirement for reporting quality measures

Not later than the specified application date, as applicable to measures and PAC providers, the Secretary shall specify quality measures on which PAC providers are required under the applicable reporting provisions to submit standardized patient assessment data described in subsection (b)(1) and other necessary data specified by the Secretary. Such measures shall be with respect to at least the following domains:

(A)

Functional status, cognitive function, and changes in function and cognitive function.

(B)

Skin integrity and changes in skin integrity.

(C)

Medication reconciliation.

(D)

Incidence of major falls.

(E)

Accurately communicating the existence of and providing for the transfer of health information and care preferences of an individual to the individual, family caregiver of the individual, and providers of services furnishing items and services to the individual, when the individual transitions—

(i)

from a hospital or critical access hospital to another applicable setting, including a PAC provider or the home of the individual; or

(ii)

from a PAC provider to another applicable setting, including a different PAC provider, a hospital, a critical access hospital, or the home of the individual.

(2)

Reporting through PAC assessment instruments

(A)

In general

(B)

Limitation

(3)

Adjustments

(A)

In general

(B)

Risk adjustment

(d)

Resource use and other measures

(1)

Requirement for resource use and other measures

Not later than the specified application date, as applicable to measures and PAC providers, the Secretary shall specify resource use and other measures on which PAC providers are required under the applicable reporting provisions to submit any necessary data specified by the Secretary, which may include standardized assessment data in addition to claims data. Such measures shall be with respect to at least the following domains:

(A)

Resource use measures, including total estimated Medicare spending per beneficiary.

(B)

Discharge to community.

(C)

Measures to reflect all-condition risk-adjusted potentially preventable hospital readmission rates.

(2)

Aligning methodology adjustments for resource use measures

(A)

Period of time

(B)

Geographic and other adjustments

(C)

Medicare spending per beneficiary

(3)

Adjustments

(A)

In general

(B)

Risk adjustment

(e)

Measurement implementation phases; selection of quality measures and resource use and other measures

(1)

Measurement implementation phases

In the case of quality measures specified under subsection (c)(1) and resource use and other measures specified under subsection (d)(1), the provisions of this section shall be implemented in accordance with the following phases:

(A)

Initial implementation phase

The initial implementation phase, with respect to such a measure, shall, in accordance with subsections (c) and (d), as applicable, consist of—

(i)

measure specification, including informing the public of the measure’s numerator, denominator, exclusions, and any other aspects the Secretary determines necessary;

(ii)

data collection, including, in the case of quality measures, requiring PAC providers to report data elements needed to calculate such a measure; and

(iii)

data analysis, including, in the case of resource use and other measures, the use of claims data to calculate such a measure.

(B)

Second implementation phase

(C)

Third implementation phase

(2)

Consensus-based entity

(A)

In general

(B)

Exception

(3)

Treatment of application of pre-rulemaking process (measure applications partnership process)

(A)

In general

(B)

Exceptions

(i)

Expedited procedures

(ii)

Option to waive provisions

(f)

Feedback reports to PAC providers

(1)

In general

(2)

Frequency

(g)

Public reporting of PAC provider performance

(1)

In general

(2)

Opportunity to review

(3)

Timing

(4)

Coordination with existing programs

Such procedures shall provide that data and information described in paragraph (1) with respect to quality measures and resource use and other measures under subsections (c)(1) and (d)(1) shall be made publicly available consistent with the following provisions:

(A)

In the case of home health agencies, section 1395fff(b)(3)(B)(v)(III) of this title.

(B)

In the case of skilled nursing facilities, sections 1395i–3(i) and 1396r(i) of this title.

(C)

In the case of inpatient rehabilitation facilities, section 1395ww(j)(7)(E) of this title.

(D)

In the case of long-term care hospitals, section 1395ww(m)(5)(E) of this title.

(h)

Removing, suspending, or adding measures

(1)

In general

(2)

Exception

(i)

Use of standardized assessment data, quality measures, and resource use and other measures to inform discharge planning and incorporate patient preference

(1)

In general

Not later than January 1, 2016, and periodically thereafter (but not less frequently than once every 5 years), the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to modify conditions of participation and subsequent interpretive guidance applicable to PAC providers, hospitals, and critical access hospitals. Such regulations and interpretive guidance shall require such providers to take into account quality, resource use, and other measures under the applicable reporting provisions (which, as available, shall include measures specified under subsections (c) and (d), and other relevant measures) in the discharge planning process. Specifically, such regulations and interpretive guidance shall address the settings to which a patient may be discharged in order to assist subsection (d) hospitals, critical access hospitals, hospitals described in section 1395ww(d)(1)(B)(v) of this title, PAC providers, patients, and families of such patients with discharge planning from inpatient settings, including such hospitals, and from PAC provider settings. In addition, such regulations and interpretive guidance shall include procedures to address—

(A)

treatment preferences of patients; and

(B)

goals of care of patients.

(2)

Discharge planning

(3)

Clarification

(j)

Stakeholder input

(k)

Funding

(l)

Limitation

(m)

Non-application of Paperwork Reduction Act

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XVIII, § 1899B, as added Pub. L. 113–185, § 2(a), Oct. 6, 2014, 128 Stat. 1952; amended Pub. L. 114–255, div. C, title XV, § 15008(d)(1), Dec. 13, 2016, 130 Stat. 1321.)

cite as: 42 USC 1395lll