Paper offers a primer on skilled nursing and home health policy for hospital clinicians

A new paper highlights the growing challenges hospital clinicians face when coordinating post-acute care for patients, particularly regarding skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and home health agencies (HHAs). Many hospital clinicians lack essential information about the business operations and care provided in these settings, making it difficult to coordinate appropriate care after discharge. This gap in knowledge complicates the continuum of care between hospitals, SNFs, and HHAs.

The paper, titled “Skilled Nursing and Home Health Policy: A Primer for the Hospital Clinician,” provides a primer on recent federal policies that have affected these post-acute care settings. It covers key changes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, such as new payment models like the Patient Driven Payment Model for SNFs and the Patient Driven Groupings Model for HHAs. Additionally, the paper discusses bundled payment programs, accountable care organizations, and Medicare Advantage plans. By outlining these policies, the paper aims to help hospital clinicians better understand the evolving landscape of post-acute care and its impact on patient care.

The paper is online now in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. It was written by Assistant Professor Rachel Prusynski, DPT, PhD, NCS; Cait Brown, Cait Brown, PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Science; as well as Joshua K Johnson, DPT, PhD, from Duke University; and Jessica Edelstein, PhD, OTR/L, of Northwestern University.