CMS releases Medicare data on SNF use, payments in 2013

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today released data on services provided to Medicare beneficiaries by more than 15,000 skilled nursing facilities in 2013. For each SNF and resource utilization group, the data sets provide the number of stays, days and beneficiaries served; and total and average charges, allowed amounts, Medicare payments, and Medicare payments adjusted for geographic differences in payment rates. The data also include the number of patients classified in the two rehabilitation payment groups that are the highest paid. CMS said it has referred to Medicare recovery audit contractors its concern that many SNF cases in these payment categories exceed the minimum therapy thresholds by fewer than 10 minutes. For more information, see the CMS factsheet.