The Value of Clinicians Under PDPM

The implementation of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) has marked a monumental change for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and many questions remain about the impact on therapy and patient care. One of the biggest is around the value of licensed practitioners as highly trained clinicians under the new payment model.

Nurses, social workers, dietitians and other clinicians have long played an important role in patient care at SNFs. But providers now are asking if highly trained clinicians are still necessary. Contrary to many misconceptions, the value of the licensed practitioner is more important than ever under the new payment model.

Here, we take a look at what’s changed and what has not with the new payment model — and why highly trained clinicians are more vital than ever before.