CMS announces initiative to improve care in nursing homes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a new funding opportunity to support the Initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among Nursing Facility Residents. With the funding, facilities already participating in the initiative can apply to test whether a new payment model will further reduce avoidable hospitalizations, lower Medicare/Medicaid spending and improve quality of care for residents.

The intent of the new payment model is to reduce avoidable hospitalizations by funding higher-intensity interventions for residents who may experience an acute change in condition. It also includes payments to practitioners. 

"This initiative has the potential to improve the care for the most frail, most vulnerable Medicare-Medicaid enrollees—long term residents of nursing facilities," Tim Engelhardt, director of the Medicare Medicaid Coordination Office said in a press release. "By aligning financial incentives, we can improve the quality of on-site care in nursing facilities and the assessment and management of conditions that too often now lead to unnecessary and costly hospitalizations."

CMS has partnered with seven Enhanced Care and Coordination Providers (ECCP) to test a model that improves care for long-stay nursing home residents. The ECCPs have partnered with 144 facilties across seven states to provide on-site training and improve the management of medical conditions. 

Read more about the initiative here.

Megan Combs

Megan Combs was Associate Editor of I Advance Senior Care / Long Term Living from 2013-2018.