PHCA Supports New CMS Quality Measures, Notes Accuracy of Self-Reported Data by Nursing Centers

HARRISBURG — W. Russell McDaid, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA), today made the following statement about the six new quality measures announced by the U.S. Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS):

“Pennsylvania’s skilled nursing facilities are united and focused on improving the quality of care they provide. We support any effort to improve overall care and welcome the new measures recently announced by CMS. Unfortunately, the announcements about the additional quality measures erroneously convey a sense that nursing homes are providing misleading or inaccurate data on the self-reported measures. The facts tell a different story. By all measures, Pennsylvania’s skilled nursing centers continue to surpass major milestones in the high-quality care they provide. Further, they understand their responsibility and take great pride in the accuracy of the data they report to CMS, and they take seriously the role that data play in calculating their rating on the CMS Nursing Home Compare website.

“Pennsylvania’s skilled nursing centers are enhancing the quality of care provided in their centers despite the chronic financial challenges fueled by Medicaid reimbursement rates that fall far short of the true cost of care. Our skilled nursing facilities continue to provide the highest level of care to the men and women who rely on our centers for their daily living needs, and comfort to the families who entrust us with their care.”