CMS’ Final Rule has several key items impacting SNF rehab beginning January 1, 2025 (CMS’ Final Rule Fact Sheet). Priority items needing an immediate advocacy push include Telehealth and Provider Relief surrounding the Part B Fee Schedule.
Note: Click here to access the updated QRM/Data IQ PDPM Rate Calculator with a tab including the Part B Fee Schedule as stated in the 2025 Final Rule compared to 2024’s rates.
The Issues: Telehealth was introduced in our SNF setting with COVID-19 and provided a solution ensuring continued access to health care during COVID and beyond. In the final rule, CMS included optimistic language clarifying that they would “retain Therapy, Audiology, [and] Speech Language Pathology codes on the Medicare Telehealth Services List with a provisional status after the expiration on December 31, 2024 of current statutory PHE-related telehealth policies that have expanded the scope of practitioners that could furnish and be paid for telehealth services, which opens the door to continuation of therapy.”
However, without additional legislations specifying the practitioners to be included as well as the geographic locations where telehealth can be utilized, SNF-based telehealth for rehab will not be able to continue into 2025. Legislation is available through The Expanded Telehealth Access Act (H.R. 3875/S. 2880)
Provider Relief on the Part B Fee Schedule has been granted the past four years to offset the ongoing annual cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor. Nonetheless, these relief options are set to run out. This year’s reduction is set at 2.83% effective January 1st, 2025 without congressional action.
The Point Is: Every voice matters when it comes to advocating for access to care for those we serve in our SNFs. Please share this opportunity with everyone you know. For now, we want to make certain all have the information needed to accurately predict Medicare reimbursement under PDPM and Part B through our rate calculator.
We are thankful to ADVION for providing this quick and easy method to make your voices heard. Just click here to let your thoughts and insights be known.
