On July 13th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule (which can be found here) for long-term care facilities. Unlike the annual Skilled Nursing Facility payment rule issued in April of this year, the newly released proposal modernizes conditions of participation for long-term care facilities, which had not been updated since 1991. The proposed rule includes modifications to resident rights, facility responsibilities, transitions of care, and comprehensive resident-centered care plans. The proposed rule aims to improve quality of life, optimize resident safety, and encourage patient-centered care in long-term care facilities.
CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule for 60 days. The attached document summarizes several major provisions of the proposed rule.