On October 1, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began implementing a new payment system for Medicare-covered nursing home care. The payment system is called the “Patient Driven Payment Model” (PDPM). PDPM creates a new set of financial incentives for nursing homes to consider when admitting and discharging residents, as well as providing resident care.
According to the Long Term Care Community Coalition, some of the incentives created under the new payment model could result in less advantageous care for some Medicare-covered nursing home care.
Families with loved ones who may be eligible for Medicare-covered nursing home care need to educate themselves on how this new payment model could impact the quality of care their family member may receive after hospital discharge.