Creator: Patrick Connole
CMS Updates SNF Data Validation FAQs
CMS has updated the SNF Data Validation Process FAQs in a new August guidance. Find out what is important to know.
In its August guidance, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated its Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Data Validation Process Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) with several changes of importance to providers.
The information as analyzed by Amy Miller, director of clinical and regulatory services, American Health Care Association, in a new blog post, said the following points are key.
Quarterly selection schedule. CMS now specifies that SNF data validation selection notifications will be released in February, May, August, and November each year. In addition to posting the selection notice in the MDS 3.0 Provider Preview Reports folder in iQIES, CMS will also send an email alert to active email addresses associated with the selected SNF’s iQIES accounts, Miller said.
Annual Validation Summary Reports. CMS previously indicated that facilities would receive Validation Summary Reports within three months of the medical record submission deadline. The updated FAQ states that reports will now be uploaded to iQIES annually. CMS also clarified that it will not provide case-specific explanations of individual validation findings.
New guidance on PII and PHI. CMS added guidance for situations in which personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI) is inadvertently emailed to the SNF Data Validation Help Desk. Such emails will be flagged as a breach, and the sender will be instructed to delete the email and attachments and submit the information through the secure portal.
New Help Desk email. SNFs should now direct data validation questions to snfvalidation@cms.hhs.gov, which replaces the previous contractor email address.
With the updated information in the FAQ document, Miller said SNFs should:
Monitor iQIES during February, May, August, and November for selection notices.
Verify iQIES user accounts and email addresses are active and current.
Update internal materials (as applicable) with the new SNF Data Validation Help Desk email address.
Remind staff not to send PII, PHI, medical records, or selection notices by email.
Plan for Validation Summary Reports to be posted annually rather than within three months of record submission.
Providers can review updated CMS SNF Data Validation Process FAQs for more information.
Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.
