Legislative landscape '98: experts' overview - long-term care industry - Cover Story

Nursing Homes, Nov-Dec, 1998 by Cindy Grahl, Richard L. Peck

"All that aside, no one is sure what the PPS rates really are. We are operating under an interim rule, and there may be rate-setting errors that will be reconciled later. That means cash flow could become a concern for facilities and, while I'm not saying they should panic, they should definitely make sure that their interim rates are correct and that they understand that reimbursements might be adjusted up or down.

"One has to wonder, too, whether problems with the July 1 facilities might clog up the system enough to delay the October 1 and January 1 facilities from implementing the PPS. I'm an optimist, though, and I also have to acknowledge that we have been extremely fortunate in that HCFA has been very collaborative on this. HCFA officials have been caring, accessible, highly motivated and hard-working, and that has helped a great deal."