CMS Issues Final Rule on Medicare Payments to SNFs 

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Washington, DC

– Governor Mark Parkinson, President & CEO of the American Health Care Association (AHCA), issued the following statement in response to the release of the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System final rule for FY 2012 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): 

“The CMS rule makes reductions beyond what is necessary for budget neutrality. This will threaten our ability to provide quality care to America’s seniors. Coupled with changes in group therapy definitions, this drastic reduction will be especially challenging for skilled nursing facilities to manage.

“At such a critical time, while we already face drastic cuts to Medicaid at the state level and a fragile economic recovery, this was unnecessary. AHCA put forth a more balanced approach that would have met the goal of budget neutrality while protecting the critical role nursing facilities play, which the agency unfortunately disregarded. Their immediate reduction to skilled nursing facilities now puts more than 100,000 health care jobs at risk, as well as our ability to provide quality care to our nation’s seniors. 

“This final rule only emphasizes the importance of preventing any additional cuts to skilled nursing for the foreseeable future. AHCA will continue to work with CMS and lawmakers to implement policies that preserve the level of care seniors deserve.”

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As the nation’s largest association of long term and post-acute care providers, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) advocates for quality care and services for frail, elderly and disabled Americans. Compassionate and caring employees provide essential care to one million individuals in our 11,000 not-for-profit and proprietary member facilities.