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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is undertaking a national nursing home staff time measurement study to recalibrate the Resource Utilization Groups (RUG-III) case mix weights. The case mix system is the foundation of the Skilled Nursing Facility Medicare Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS). Studies in eight states have been completed. The following states and the District of Columbia will be participating in this national study in 2007 and CMS is looking for volunteers to assist in District of Columbia (January 2007), Nevada (January 2007), Virginia (February 2007), Illinois (March 2007) and Louisiana (Spring 2007).
The process of selecting nursing homes to participate is underway. These nursing homes have been determined by a stratified random sampling process. As these studies are scheduled, professionals are being offered an opportunity to participate as data monitors in the participating nursing homes. Continuing Education Units are being developed which will be available for all volunteer data monitors.
The new Staff Time and Resource Intensity Verification (STRIVE) study, started on-site facility studies in the Spring of 2006. CMS plans to collect resource use and resident assessment data from a national sample of nursing homes. Participation of sampled homes is essential to the validity of the study to achieve an accurate picture of the resources used to care for residents in the current environment. STRIVE's Technical Expert Panel includes an ASHA representative. This will be the first SNF time study since 1997. As it was then, every minute of every health care employee will be tracked, but with more sophisticated electronic data assistants.
Data monitors train facility staff to use data collection equipment, monitor the data collection, and serve as resources for the facility staff. Each facility will need data monitors to assist. This is a key role especially at the change of shift. There will be a one day of training for data monitors. This training will also be available at the facility for volunteers who cannot attend the earlier session.
If you would like more information or are interested in becoming a data monitor, please contact the STRIVE Hotline, Iowa Foundation for Medical Care (IFMC), at 866-242-0921. CMS has contracted with IFMC to conduct the study. You can also learn more about the STRIVE study at http://www.qtso.com. For more information on the objectives of the STRIVE study, please contact Mark Kander, ASHA's Director of Health Care Regulatory Analysis, via e-mail at mkander@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4139.
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