Next SNF PEPPER Distributed Electronically

As reported previously by AHCA and IHCA, TMF Health Quality Institute is contracted with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to produce and distribute the Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER).  To date, PEPPERs have been available electronically to SNFs/swing bed units of short-term acute care hospitals. Other SNFs have received their PEPPER in hard-copy format via mail.  

TMF is currently developing a secure portal on its website to deliver PEPPERs to SNFs that do not have access to QualityNet. TMF anticipates the PEPPERs will be made available for download in May 2014; and they will remain accessible for approximately one year. To receive notification when the PEPPER is available and guidance on accessing the PEPPER, join the email list at http://www.pepperresources.com (see the gray box on the upper right section of the Home page).

Please note these requirements:
1.      Access to the PEPPER will be restricted to the provider’s Chief Executive Officer, President or Administrator. Note: Corporate offices and/or facility management companies will need to obtain PEPPERs from each individual provider in their organization.
2.      Requestors will be required to enter their 6-digit CMS certification number (also referred to as a provider number or PTAN) (third digit of “5” or “6” for SNFs). This is *not* the same number as the tax identification number or national provider identification number.
3.      For verification purposes, requestors will be required to enter either a medical record number *or* a patient control number for a patient who received services at the provider during a specified time period (TMF will determine this time period closer to report distribution).

Note: Only numerical entries can be accepted. If providers use only letters in both of these fields they must contact TMF to request assistance. Patient names cannot be entered due to patient privacy laws.

This will not impact providers who receive their PEPPER via QualityNet. SNFs/swing bed units of short-term acute care hospitals will continue to receive their PEPPER via QualityNet. These providers will be notified via email once the QualityNet distribution is complete. Visit http://www.pepperresources.com for more information about PEPPER or to submit questions about PEPPER