Non-Sub change justification

Long-Term Care Hospital Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation Data Set (LTCH CARE Data Set)

Non-Substantive Change Request Justification

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requesting a non-substantive change request in response to the delay in the implementation of the Long-Term Care Hospital Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation Data Set (LTCH CARE Data Set or LCDS) Version 5.0. This delay was a result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). In response to the PHE, per 85 FR 27550 CMS provided relief to the providers by delaying the implementation of LCDS V5.0.

On November 2, 2021 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule (86 FR 62240) which finalized proposed modifications to the effective date for reporting measures and certain standardized patient assessment data in the Long Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program (LTCH QRP). Per the final rule CMS will require LTCHs to start collecting assessment data using LCDS Version 5.0 beginning October 1, 2022. The rule is available here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/11/09/2021-23993/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-cy-2022-home-health-prospective-payment-system-rate-update-home

CMS informed the provider community with the publication of the final rule noted above and with an announcement on LTCH QRP webpage on November 2, 2021. A reference to the announcement can be found on the LTCH QRP webpage located here

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/LTCH-Quality-Reporting/LTCH-Quality-Reporting-Spotlight-Announcements

CMS is asking for approval for the previously approved LCDS Version 5.0 which was approved on December 23, 2019.

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