January 15,
2021 by Tom Trice, VP of
Therapy Solutions
The good
news for therapists in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) is that they are now
facing a lower pay cut in 2021 than expected. Adjustments to help rehab
therapists during the COVID-19 crisis were included in the Consolidated Appropriations and COVID-19 Relief Act of
2021, signed December 27, 2020, that reduced the overall pay
cut originally planned by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS)
by more than 50%. The bad news is that therapists still face an estimated
3.3% to 3.6% pay cuts, and it is unknown how long the reprieve will last and if
the 9% pay cut will resume when the crisis has passed.1
Many of our
SNF clients are wondering how they can minimize the effects this may have on
therapists. Since these cuts will undoubtedly impact nursing homes,
it then begs the question: What can SNFs do to minimize the effects this may
have on therapists? At a time when SNF occupancy is already at an all-time low
due to the pandemic, how can these facilities diversify therapy mix in their
environments? Here are some suggestions:
Staff Appropriately
From a
staffing perspective, facilities are encouraged to take inventory on what the
roles and responsibilities are of therapists – such as evaluations and
supervisory visits – versus assistants. SNFs can look at what they are doing
and ask: Is there anything a therapist is currently in charge of that an
assistant can tackle and take care of instead? Take strength training
exercises, for example. An assistant may be more appropriate to help guide a
patient with this form of exercise, while a licensed therapist focuses on
skilled decision making for patient recovery plans.
Maintain Efficiency
One of the
best ways to maximize efficiency within a SNF is to take inventory of how many
therapists there are versus how many assistants. What’s the ratio? Know that
number. Afterwards, look at what each licensed therapist is doing and ask the
following: Are therapists doing things that assistants can do? If they are,
then delve into work tasks and responsibilities, and see how they can be
adjusted accordingly.
Keep Track of Staff Productivity
Along
similar lines, SNFs need to maintain a consistent level of productivity – this
helps ensure a smooth workflow and that staff members are, in turn, delivering
high-quality results. A good way to measure productivity is to look at the
following: Are the clinicians and therapists on staff less than 80 percent
productive? Are all team members operating at their best? How else can SNFs
enhance and expand productivity? These are just a few questions that may be
worth pondering in order to maintain optimal workflow and performance.
Focus on Cost
While
analyzing different factors that can affect efficiency and staff productivity,
skilled nursing facilities are also encouraged to think about how to reduce
cost. In simple terms, therapists and assistants should be doing what they are
expected to do. By making sure that team members are working at the top of
their resume, this is how you can reduce cost.
With many
changes in the new year, it can be a nerve-wracking time for SNFs and
therapists that are trying to keep their head above water, so to speak.
Especially as we continue to navigate unpredictable factors related to
COVID-19. The good news is, though, for any foreseeable challenges that may lie
in the horizon, there are also solutions. And hopefully these proposed
solutions can accommodate therapists who want to continue working in the SNF
space.
References:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tom Trice VP
of Therapy Solutions oversees the development and delivery of therapy software
for skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and contract therapy
companies. Tom has more than twenty years of experience in the long-term care
industry. He has been with Net Health for over 12 years and has led development
efforts for every aspect of the patient lifecycle including case management,
point-of-care, interoperability and revenue cycle management. Prior to joining
Optima, he worked in billing and finance for Genesis Healthcare.
https://www.nethealth.com/with-cuts-on-horizon-how-can-snfs-diversify-therapy-mix/
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