Government Payor Reforms Flashcards
What does TEFRA stand for?
Tax Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982
What are the 2 things TERFA established?
- The first prospective payment system (PPS) for acute hospital care
- The first utilization review bodies for Medicare called Peer Review Organizations (PROs)
What was the law that created Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs)?
TERFA
What was the goal of DRGs?
Reduce utilization of inpatient acute care
What does BBA stand for?
Balanced Budget Act of 1997
What did the Balanced Budget Act mandate?
Implementation of a prospective payment system for hospital outpatient services and postacute care providers, such as SNFs, home health agencies, and IRF
Describe what a prospective payment system is?
a method of reimbursement in which Medicare payment is made based on a predetermined, fixed amount. The payment amount for a particular service is derived based on the classification system of that service (for example, diagnosis-related groups for inpatient hospital services).
What are the 2 types of PPS?
Retrospective
Prospective
Describe a retrospective payment system
The payor knows how much to pay AFTER receiving the bill from the provider
Describe a prospective payment system
The payor knows what will be paid before receiving the bill from the provider for a given condition or length of stay (benefit for the insurer)
Describe why prospective PPS are a benefit from the insure
They can better predict future outlays, making budgeting more accurate
Why was the BBA needed?
DRGs created incentive to transfer to post-acute, so hospitals took advantage of that incentive
Medicare spending for SNF’s rose at an average annual rate of __% between 1990 and 1996.
Why is this significant
23
It proves that hospitals were trying to take advantage of the incentive DRGs created to discharge acute patients to post-acute settings. Hence the need for BBA
How did the paradigm shift following the passing of the BBA in 1997?
Prior to its passing most used a fee for service in which the provider set the price.
Following its passing and the adoption of PPS, Medicare set the price.
What was the goal of BBA?
to reduce Medicare outlays by $116.4 billion through 2002
What were the 4 BBA 1997 PPS’ that were instituted?
- SNF
- OP Rehab
- Home Health
- IRF
The SNF PPS uses a ____ ___ system
case mix
Describe the SNF prospective payment system
There is an all inclusive per diem rate based on patient acuity. No service or discipline can bill separately for services.
How is patient acuity determined?
through a comprehensive assessment of each patient, using the Minimum Data Set (MDS)
What does the MDS aggregate score give us?
the patient’s RUG level
MDS completed on Day _ determines payment for Days 1 through 14.
MDS completed on Day __ determines payment for Days 15 through 30.
MDS completed on Day __ determines payment for Days 31 through 60.
MDS completed on Day __ determines payment for Days 61 through 90.
MDS completed on Day __ determines payment for Days 91 through 100.
5
14
30
60
90
What are the 2 pieces that make up RUG grouping?
- Therapy minutes
- Number of days therapy provided
True or False
Evaluation days and minutes count towards the determination of RUG grouping
False
Because eval days and minutes do not count, what is suggested?
perform at least fifteen (15) minutes of treatment on evaluation day so that day counts toward the five days needed in the assessment period