Senate To Address RUG-IV Delay

VHCA (7/23/2010)

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that would eliminate the Resource Utilization Group, Version Four (RUG-IV) one-year delay included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The U.S. Senate now must address legislation to repeal the delay.
 
If the Senate passes legislation similar to the Veterans’, Seniors’ and Children’s Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010 (H.R. 5712) passed by the House and the measure is signed by President Obama, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be required to transition to RUG-IV at the same time Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 is implemented – October 1, 2010.

Failure by the Senate to pass this legislation would have CMS in the position of having to implement MDS 3.0 in conjunction with RUGs III.  This scenario is likely to be difficult for both providers and CMS.  Watch for updates to this story.