Urges Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to increase access to skilled nursing facility and home office data.
The resolution seeks broader access to datasets that contain vital information such as facility characteristics, utilization data, cost and charges, and financial statements. Currently, this data is often buried in technical formats that require specialized software to interpret. By improving the usability of the data and making it more widely available, New Jersey aims to enhance healthcare resource planning and coordination. This comes as a response to the recognized inefficiencies highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when many skilled nursing facilities experienced significant challenges.
Senate Resolution No. 97 urges the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase the accessibility of crucial cost report data for Medicare-certified skilled nursing facilities and home office data. This resolution reflects a growing need for transparency and available data in healthcare operations, particularly in the context of the pandemic, which severely affected skilled nursing facilities in New Jersey. With over 300 skilled nursing facilities in the state, the data collected through these reports is essential for improving the quality of care and managing costs effectively.
While there may be overwhelming support for better data access among healthcare advocates and state officials, some may raise concerns regarding privacy and the feasibility of such data availability. An emphasis on releasing unredacted data could lead to apprehensions regarding the handling of sensitive information, and whether healthcare facilities would be adequately protected from misuse of this data. Balancing transparency with patient privacy and organizational integrity remains a critical discussion as this resolution evolves.