Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Training
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has many sources of information about the IRF QRP for hospitals and other stakeholders including:
- Training Materials and In-person Training
- Training Question and Answers (Q&As)
- Hospital/Quality Initiative Open Door Forum (ODF) Presentations
- Special Open Door Forum (SODF) Presentations
- CMS Quality Partner/Vendor Workgroup Presentations
This page is organized to be a library of training materials available to IRFs. Trainings added to this page in the most recent six months will display as *NEW*.
If you have technical questions or feedback regarding the training, please email the PAC Training mailbox. Content-related questions should be submitted to the IRF QRP Help Desk.
Introduction to the IRF QRP Web-Based Training
This web-based training course was developed for those who are new to the IRF QRP. The Introduction to the IRF QRP course is designed to provide a general overview of the program as well as a variety of links and resources for additional information. Specific topics include:
- Lesson 1: What is the IRF QRP?
- Lesson 2: The Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF-PAI)
- Lesson 3: IRF-PAI Data Submission
- Lesson 4: IRF QRP Resources
From Data Elements to Quality Measures – Cross-Setting QRP Web-Based Training.
This web-based training course provides a high-level overview of how data elements within CMS patient/resident assessment instruments are used to construct quality measures (QMs) across post-acute care (PAC) settings. The PAC settings included are those covered under the CMS QRPs for Home Health Agencies (HHAs), IRFs, Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs) and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). Information covered in this 60-minutes course will include a brief review of the QRPs’ cross-setting QMs, how data elements feed into these cross-setting QMs, how QMs are calculated and appear on QM reports and how to access and use this data for quality improvement.
Achieving a Full AIF Webinar
A video of the IRF QRP: Achieving a Full Annual Increase Factor (AIF) webinar that took place on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, is available to view on YouTube at the following link: https://youtu.be/Jk2_2tqwg88. The training materials are here:
Social Determinants of Health Training Materials
SDOH Items Explainer Video
The Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Items: Determining When a Proxy Response is Allowed for IRF Providers 4-minute explainer video was developed to assist providers in accurately determining when the use of a proxy response is allowed for SDOH items: A1005. Ethnicity, A1010. Race, A1110. Language, A1250. Transportation, B1300. Health Literacy, and D0700. Social Isolation.
Section A Training Materials
Transfer of Health Items Explainer Video
This short, animated explainer video is intended to assist providers in coding A2121. Provision of Current Reconciled Medication List to Subsequent Provider at Discharge and A2123. Provision of Current Reconciled Medication List to Patient at Discharge.
Section C Training Materials
Cognitive Assessment
This web-based training provides an overview of the approaches to conducting a standardized cognitive assessment and the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS). The course includes interactive exercises to evaluate your knowledge related to the assessment and coding of the BIMS and should take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
BIMS Video Tutorial
This 10-minute updated video tutorial was developed to assist providers with guidance application and interview strategies for the cognitive assessment known as the Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS) found in the IRF-PAI 4.0. This video tutorial is designed to provide targeted guidance for accurate coding using live-action patient scenarios.
BIMS and BIMS Summary Score Explainer Video
This animated explainer video, BIMS and BIMS Summary Score: Stopping and Coding an Incomplete Interview for IRF Providers was developed to assist providers in accurately determining when the Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS) should be stopped, and how to code the remaining items in this situation.
BIMS Interview Cue Cards
This set of cue cards is intended to assist providers in conducting the Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS), as referenced in the IRF-PAI 4.0 coding guidance. This resource is intended to be utilized as a supplemental patient communication tool that provides a visual reference for the coding of response options. More detailed instructions regarding the use of cue cards and the administration of the BIMS in writing can be found in the IRF-PAI 4.0 Manual.
Section D Training Materials
PHQ-2 to 9 Cue Card
This cue card is intended to assist providers in coding the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2 to 9) as referenced in the coding guidance for D0150. This resource is intended to be utilized during the Patient Mood Interview as a supplemental communication tool that provides a visual reference to assist patient selection of symptom frequency. The cue card is offered in two sizes which can be viewed or printed here:
Section GG Training Materials
Section GG 3-Course Training Series
This web-based training series is designed to be used on demand anywhere you can access a browser and includes interactive exercises to evaluate your knowledge related to the assessment and coding of Section GG items. This training series consists of three courses:
- Course 1: Understanding Prior Functioning and Prior Device Use.
- Course 2: GG0130. Self-Care Items.
- Course 3: GG0170. Mobility Items.
Video Tutorials Available to Assist with Coding Specific Section GG Items
These videos, ranging from 4 to 12 minutes, are designed to provide targeted guidance using simulated patient scenarios. To access the videos, click on the links below.
- GG0110. Prior Device Use with Information from Multiple Sources. (3:58)
- GG0130A. Eating. (6:19)
- GG0130B. Oral Hygiene (4:25)
- GG0130H. Putting on/taking off footwear.(6:25)
- GG0170C. Lying to Sitting on Side of Bed. (4:31)
- GG0170L. Walking 10 feet on uneven surfaces. (5:52)
- GG1070P. Picking up object. (5:49)
- Decision Tree for Coding Section GG0130. Self-Care and GG0170. Mobility. (11:56)
Section J Training Materials
Health Conditions: Coding the Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements Related to Falls
This 45-minute web-based training provides an overview of the assessment and coding of the standardized patient assessment data elements in Section J: Health Conditions and is designed to include interactive exercises to evaluate your knowledge. To access the videos, click the links below.
J0510-J0530 Pain Interview Explainer Video
This 4-minute, animated explainer video, J0510-J0530 Pain Interview: Understanding How a Patient Communicates Pain for IRFs was developed to assist providers in accurately coding the new pain interview items including pain assessment strategies and associated patient communication challenges. The video is now available through the following link: J0510-J0530 Pain Interview Explainer Video.
Pain Interview Cue Cards
This set of cue cards is intended to assist providers in conducting the Pain Interview, as referenced in the IRF-PAI 4.0 coding guidance. This resource is intended to be utilized as a supplemental patient communication tool that provides a visual reference for the coding of response options. More detailed instructions regarding the use of cue cards can be found in the IRF-PAI 4.0 Manual.
Section M Training Materials
Assessment and Coding of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries
This 90-minute web-based training provides an overview of the assessment and coding of the standardized patient assessment data elements in Section M: Skin Conditions and is designed to include interactive exercises to evaluate your knowledge. To access the videos, click the links below.
Medications – Drug Regimen Review
This 45-minute web-based training provides an overview of the assessment and coding of the Drug Regimen Review standardized patient assessment data elements to Section N and is designed to be used on demand anywhere you can access a browser. To access the videos, click the links below.
Understanding Coding for N0415 Explainer Video
This 4-minute, animated explainer video, Understanding Coding for N0415. High-Risk Drug Classes: Use and Indication for IRF Providers, was developed to assist providers in accurately determining whether a patient is taking any prescribed medications in the specified drug classes and whether the patient-specific indication was noted for all medications in the drug class.
Job Aids
Companion job aids assist providers in the assessment and coding of assessment items, and provide clinically relevant information to assist providers in understanding specific guidelines and clinical considerations that should be applied to coding these items. The job aids are provided in multiple file types designed for printing, viewing, or sharing electronically. An explanation of the file types is provided in the ZIP file.
GG0130A. Eating, GG0130B. Oral Hygiene, GG0130C. Toileting Hygiene, GG0130E. Shower/Bathe Self, GG0130F. Upper Body Dressing, GG0130G. Lower Body Dressing, and GG0130H. Putting On/Taking Off Footwear
Pocket Guides / Badge Buddies
Pocket Guides are intended to assist providers in the assessment and coding of assessment items, and provide a quick reference for important terms and definitions that promote coding accuracy. These pocket guides are approximately 2 x 3.5 inches in size and are designed to be worn behind a provider identification badge.
- Pocket Guide #1: Coding for Self-Care and Mobility Items (PDF).
- Pocket Guide #2: Definitions for Coding Section J Fall Items (PDF).
- Pocket Guide #3: Pressure Ulcers/Injuries Stages and Definitions (PDF).
Updates
January 19, 2024
NOW AVAILABLE: CMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document and Methodology Report for the Post-Acute Care Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports
In October 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports to post-acute care (PAC) providers: the Discharge to Community (DTC) Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report and the Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary (MSPB) Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report.
To answer frequently asked questions and to provide methodological information about these reports, CMS released the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document and the Methodology Report. The materials can be access through these links:
- CMS Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document (PDF)
- CMS Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report Methodology Report (PDF)
December 15, 2023
CMS Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports Live Q&A Materials
On November 16, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted a live Q&A session about the CMS Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports for post-acute care (PAC) providers in the Home Health (HH), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF), Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH), and Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) settings, which were released in October 2023. The PAC Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports stratified the Discharge to Community and Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary measures by dual-enrollment status and race/ethnicity.
The live Q&A session gave participants an opportunity to ask CMS subject matter experts about the report’s methodologies and interpretations can be found in these links:
- CMS Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report Q&A Session Recording
- CMS Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report Q&A Session Slides (PDF)
- CMS Health Equity Confidential Feedback Report Q&A Session Transcript (PDF)
If you would like to submit feedback to CMS on the PAC Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports, please submit it to your provider-specific helpdesk. Please include “Health Equity Feedback” in the subject line of your email.
- HH: HomeHealthQualityQuestions@cms.hhs.gov
- IRF: IRF.questions@cms.hhs.gov
- LTCH: LTCHQualityQuestions@cms.hhs.gov
- SNF: SNFQualityQuestions@cms.hhs.gov
October 16, 2023
Educational webinar recording and fact sheet providing an overview of the Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an educational webinar recording and fact sheet providing an overview of the Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports. The webinar slides, webinar transcript, and fact sheet are available in the Downloads section below. To access the webinar recording video, click on the following link: Online webinar recording.
If you have questions about accessing any of the resources listed on this webpage or have feedback regarding the trainings, please email the PAC Training Mailbox. Content-related questions should be submitted to the IRF QRP Help Desk.
IRF Quality Reporting Program Archives
Downloads
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PAC_Health_Equity_Confidential_Feedback_Report_Webinar_Slides_10-16-2023 (PDF) -
PAC_Health_Equity_Confidential_Feedback_Report_Webinar_Transcript_10-16-2023 (PDF) -
PAC_Health_Equity_Confidential_Feedback_Report_Fact_Sheet_10-16-2023 (PDF) -
IRFQRP_Achieving_a_Full-AIF_508 (PDF)