Skilled nursing facility workforce and quality incentive program
As a Medi-Cal managed care plan, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan participates in the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Skilled Nursing Facility Workforce and Quality Incentive Program (SNF WQIP). This directed payment program provides incentives for facilities to improve quality of care, advance equity in healthcare outcomes, and invest in their workforce.
Frequently asked questions
What facilities are eligible for SNF WQIP incentive payments?
Eligible:
Freestanding SNF Level-B and Adult Freestanding Subacute Facility Level-B facilities that are eligible to participate in the Medi-Cal program and that furnish services under a network provider agreement
Not eligible:
- Distinct part facilities
- Freestanding pediatric subacute care facilities
- Intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled
- SNFs with 100% designated special treatment program
- Facilities in which all beds are designated for hospice services
- Facilities in which all beds are designated for special treatment program services for the mentally disordered
How will SNF WQIP payment amounts be determined?
- DHCS will calculate a per diem incentive amount for the program year for each SNF provider, using metrics established for the workforce, clinical quality, and equity domains. A provider’s WQIP score will be based on an aggregate of all the services they provided across all the MCPs they support. (SNFs will not receive separate scores for each MCP.) Please refer to the SNF WQIP Technical Program Guide for Program Year 1 for more information.
- Blue Shield Promise will calculate the number of eligible bed days for each qualifying SNF during the program year and report them to DHCS. DHCS will then apply its determined per diem rate to those bed days and provide Blue Shield Promise with interim and final payment exhibits.
What qualifies as a bed day?
SNF WQIP qualifying bed days are calendar days during which a member receives SNF Level-B services, inclusive of the first day of the member’s stay and excluding the day of discharge unless it is also the first day of stay.
SNF Level-B services include:
- Room and board
- Nursing and related care services
- Commonly used items of equipment, supplies, and services
- Leave of absence days
- Bed holds
Bed days reimbursed outside of a network provider agreement, bed days for which Medi-Cal is a secondary payer, and bed days reimbursed through the Medi-Cal fee-for-service delivery system are not qualified for SNF WQIP.
Also, hospice services and special treatment program services for the mentally disordered do not qualify as bed days.
How will SNF WQIP payments be processed by Blue Shield Promise?
All payments will be calculated based on the per diem incentive amounts determined by DHCS and the criteria for eligibility contained in All Plan Letter 25-002. They will be processed twice for each program year, once as an interim payment and again, as the final payment for each program year.
Blue Shield Promise will make SNF WQIP payments to providers directly, based on the receipt of qualifying clean fee-for-service (FFS) claims from the provider that have been received for the incentive payment period. The payments will be processed and issued within 45 calendar days of receiving payment exhibits from DHCS or within 30 calendar days of receiving a clean claim from the provider, whichever is later.
SNF WQIP payments will be issued with a detailed cover letter describing the payments, whom to contact with any questions, and how to file a grievance. Along with the payment cover letter, you will also receive a detailed claims report showing the data upon which the payments were calculated.
What if I need to file a dispute or grievance?
If you have a question about your SNF WQIP payment, please send an email to our LTSS liaisons at PHPSNFProvInquiries@blueshieldca.com.
If you need to dispute a claim, please refer to the Claim Issues & Disputes page on the Provider Connection website, here: Claim issues & disputes | Blue Shield of CA Provider
You can find detailed instructions on how to file a dispute here: Submit disputes online and check status (PDF, 2 MB)
Resources
- See additional Frequently Asked Questions about SNF WQIP (PDF, 304 KB)
- Go to the Blue Shield Education page to sign up for upcoming SNF WQIP webinars.
- Visit the DHCS SNF WQIP web page
- Read All Plan Letter 25-002
Contact us
Email: PHPSNFProvInquiries@blueshieldca.com
Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) liaisons (PDF, 157 KB)
Provider dispute resolution policy and procedures
Communicate your questions and concerns to Blue Shield Promise and learn how to appeal or dispute a claim payment.
All Plan Letter summaries
See what guidelines and requirements have been posted in the latest Department of Health Care Services All Plan Letters (APLs).