Question 1

What data sources does Placet use for nursing home information?

Accepted Answer

Placet pulls directly from CMS Provider Data — the same dataset behind Medicare's Care Compare — synced within 48 hours of each monthly CMS release. On top of that, web enrichment extracts clinical capabilities, intake contacts, and specialty programs from facility websites and Google listings.

Question 2

How current is the Medicare star rating and deficiency data?

Accepted Answer

Star ratings, health inspection deficiencies, staffing hours, and penalty records update monthly from CMS. Web-enriched data (clinical capabilities, phone contacts) is scraped on a rolling basis and updated when the enrichment pipeline runs.

Question 3

How do I filter SNF search results by clinical capabilities like trach or vent?

Accepted Answer

Use the capability filters in the Placet search sidebar. Check Trach, Vent, Wound VAC, or Bariatric to show only facilities with confirmed capability. Always confirm directly with the facility's intake team before referring.

Question 4

What is a Special Focus Facility (SFF)?

Accepted Answer

CMS designates a facility as a Special Focus Facility (SFF) when it has a documented history of serious quality problems across multiple inspections. SFFs are placed on an enhanced oversight track with more frequent state surveys. SFF status is a significant red flag for placement.

Question 5

What is the Placement Debrief feature?

Accepted Answer

After completing a placement, you can log a Placement Debrief capturing outcome, authorization speed, payer type, and whether you'd refer again. This builds the local knowledge base for social workers in your region.

Question 6

How does a skilled nursing facility get listed in a discharge planning directory?

Accepted Answer

Listings are drawn directly from CMS Provider Data. If your facility is Medicare-certified, it is already listed. The basic profile — name, address, phone, star ratings, and deficiencies — comes from CMS. Clinical capabilities are added via web enrichment of your public website.

Question 7

How do I update incorrect information about my nursing home?

Accepted Answer

CMS-sourced data (ratings, deficiencies, staffing) must be corrected at the source by filing corrections with CMS directly. For web-enriched data such as clinical capabilities, ensure that information is clearly stated on your facility's public website.

Question 8

How can I get my clinical capabilities shown in SNF search filters?

Accepted Answer

Make sure your capabilities are clearly listed on your facility website, ideally in a dedicated Services or Clinical Programs section. Capabilities communicated only verbally during intake calls will not appear in discharge planner search filters.

Question 9

What is a skilled nursing facility (SNF)?

Accepted Answer

A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is an inpatient medical center that provides short-term medical care, wound care, and rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay. SNFs differ from traditional long-term care nursing homes by maintaining licensed nurses on-site 24 hours a day and offering targeted physical, occupational, and speech therapy for stroke, surgery, and illness recovery.

Question 10

What do Medicare star ratings mean for nursing homes?

Accepted Answer

Medicare assigns an overall star rating from 1 to 5 to skilled nursing facilities based on three core components: health inspection results, staffing levels measured in RN hours per resident per day, and quality measures such as readmission rates. A 5-star rating is the highest score available.

Question 11

What is a health deficiency citation in a nursing home?

Accepted Answer

A health deficiency citation is issued when state inspectors determine that a nursing facility has failed to meet federal Medicare care standards. Citations are classified by severity, ranging from isolated incidents of minimal harm to a widespread pattern of Immediate Jeopardy.

Question 12

Do I have to go to the rehab facility my hospital recommends?

Accepted Answer

No. Under federal law (42 CFR §483.15), patients have the legal right to choose any Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility that has an available bed and can safely meet their clinical needs. You are never obligated to select a specific facility simply because it was recommended.

Question 13

Does Medicare cover skilled nursing facility (SNF) care?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing facility care, but only after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least three consecutive days. Medicare covers 100% of the cost for days 1 through 20. For days 21 through 100, patients pay a daily coinsurance. Medicare coverage ends entirely after day 100 or when the patient no longer requires daily skilled care.

Question 14

What is a Long-Term Care Ombudsman?

Accepted Answer

A Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a state-appointed, independent advocate for nursing home and SNF residents who investigates complaints about care, quality, and resident rights at no cost to patients or families. Every state has an Ombudsman program.

Question 15

How do staffing RN hours affect nursing home quality?

Accepted Answer

Staffing levels — particularly Registered Nurse hours per resident per day — are one of the strongest predictors of nursing home care quality. Higher RN hours correlate with better outcomes, faster response to clinical changes, and lower readmission rates. CMS's benchmark is 0.75 RN hours per resident per day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions