CMS-R-5: Physicians Certifications/Recertificationsin Skilled Nursing Facilities Manual Instructions

Posted in INDUSTRY NEWS, Long-Term Care

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP
Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS’ intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency’s functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

Today, September 29, 2022, CMS-R-5/2022-21108 was published in the Federal Register. The PDF version is found here.

CMS-R-5—Physicians Certifications/Recertifications in Skilled Nursing Facilities Manual Instructions

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. The term “collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires federal agencies to publish a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, CMS is publishing this notice.

Information Collection

1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Physician Certifications/Recertifications in Skilled Nursing Facilities Manual Instruction; Use: Section 1814(a) of the Social Security Act (the Act) requires specific certifications in order for Medicare payments to be made for certain services. Before the enactment of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (OBRA1989, Pub. L. 101-239), section 1814(a)(2) of the Act required that, in the case of posthospital extended care services, a physician certify that the services are or were required to be given because the individual needs or needed, on a daily basis, skilled nursing care (provided directly by or requiring the supervision of skilled nursing personnel) or other skilled rehabilitation services that, as a practical matter, can only be provided in a SNF on an inpatient basis.

The Medicare program requires, as a condition for Medicare Part A payment for posthospital skilled nursing facility (SNF) services, that a physician or other authorized practitioner must certify and periodically recertify that a beneficiary requires an SNF level of care. The physician certification and recertification is intended to ensure that the beneficiary’s need for services has been established and then reviewed and updated at appropriate intervals. The documentation is a condition for Medicare Part A payment for post-hospital SNF care. Form Number: CMS-R-5 (OMB control number 0938-0454); Frequency: Occasionally; Affected Public: Private Sector (Business or other for-profits); Number of Respondents: 2,315,259; Number of Responses: 2,315,259; Total Annual Hours: 522,199. (For policy questions regarding this collection contact Kia Burwell at 410-786-7816).

Comments must be received by November 28, 2022.

Note that CMS is not planning to change the requirements or instructions – this posting is to extend the requirement for this documentation.