Medicare's New Patient Driven Payment Model Resulted In Reductions In Therapy Staffing In Skilled Nursing Facilities

Medicare's Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) significantly altered the way skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are paid, removing the financial incentive to maximize the volume of therapy services delivered to patients. Using federal payroll-based staffing data, we examined the effect of the PDPM on SNF therapy and nursing staff hours. After PDPM implementation, which took effect October 1, 2019, SNFs significantly reduced their therapy staff hours. Physical therapist and occupational therapist staffing levels were reduced by 5-6 percent during October-December 2019 relative to pre-PDPM levels, and physical therapy assistant and occupational therapist assistant levels were reduced by about 10 percent. These reductions were concentrated among contracted employees and were larger in SNFs with higher shares of Medicare-eligible short-stay residents. No meaningful increases in nursing staff in response to the PDPM were found. Further research is needed to determine the effect of these therapy staff reductions on SNF patient outcomes.