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Guidance for SNF Attachment on Form CMS-855A

Skilled Nursing Facilities Revalidation Due Date Extended to May 1, 2025. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is revalidating skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) enrolled in Medicare as part of a comprehensive effort to collect updated data on ownership, managerial structures, and related parties.

Click here to view the updated guidance from the CMS website.

HHS Finalizes Physician Payment Rule

The final Medicare Physician Fee Schedules for CY 2025 were finalized November 1st. Average payment rates will be reduced by 2.83%.

In accordance with update factors specified in law, finalized average payment rates under the PFS will be reduced by 2.93% in CY 2025 compared to the average payment rates for most of CY 2024. The change to the PFS conversion factor reflects the 0% update required by statute for CY 2025, the expiration of the 2.93% temporary increase in payment amounts for CY 2024 required by statute, and a small budget neutrality adjustment necessary to account for changes in valuation for particular services. This amounts to a finalized CY 2025 PFS conversion factor of $32.35, a decrease of $0.94 (or 2.83%) from the current CY 2024 conversion factor of $33.29.

Click here to view the CMS press release.

NH NHSN Reporting Changes; Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Acute Respiratory Illness Data Reporting

On November 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) final rule, which updates Medicare payment policies and rates for Home Health Agencies (HHAs).

The rule includes CY 2025 changes to the CDC NHSN reporting requirements for nursing homes.

Here is an excerpt from the CMS Fact sheet:

“CMS is finalizing a new data reporting standard to address a broader range of acute care respiratory illnesses. Beginning on January 1, 2025, LTC facilities are required to electronically report information about COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in a standardized format and frequency specified by the Secretary. This new standard replaces the current COVID-19 reporting standards for LTC facilities that sunset in December 2024. CMS is finalizing that the new data elements for which reporting will be required include facility census; resident vaccination status for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV; confirmed resident cases of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV (overall and by vaccination status); and hospitalized residents with confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV (overall and by vaccination status). CMS continues to believe that sustained data collection and reporting of respiratory illnesses outside of emergencies will help LTC facilities gain important insights related to their evolving infection control needs.”

Click here to view the full fact sheet.

2025 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles

On November 8, 2024, CMS released the 2025 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs.

Medicare Part B

The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $257 in 2025, an increase of $17 from the annual deductible of $240 in 2024.

Skilled Nursing Facility

For beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities, the daily coinsurance for days 21 through 100 of extended care services in a benefit period will be $209.50 in 2025 ($204.00 in 2024).

Click here to visit the CMS website.