Supplemental Quality Incentive Payments

In SFY 2022, the Georgia Legislators with support from Governor Brian Kemp appropriated $115 million dollars for a nursing home supplemental quality incentive payment.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) accepted Georgia State Plan Amendment (SPA) GA 21-0009. The SPA allows DCH to pay a supplemental quality incentive payment to skilled nursing facilities that meet specific metrics set by DCH. Effective September 13, 2024, CMS accepted SPA GA 24-0012 allowing DCH to revise the methodology for distribution of supplemental quality incentive payments to eligible skilled nursing facilities and the CMS Long Stay Quality Measures utilized.

SFY 2028

The Department issued a Public Notice on June 11, 2026, notifying providers of the SFY 2028 quality measures. During calendar year 2027, nursing facilities must demonstrate improvement in at least one or more of the following four categories (as compared to calendar year 2026) in order to be eligible to receive a supplemental payment in SFY 2028.

• Percent of long-stay residents who lose too much weight
• Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection
• Percent of long-stay residents who received antipsychotic medication
• Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury

The supplemental payment will be based on each nursing facility's overall ranking in each CMS Long Stay Quality Measure resulting in the nursing facility receiving a payment proportional to their improvement (e.g., a facility with the highest improvement will receive the highest supplemental payment for that measure).

• Facilities that demonstrate improvement will be eligible for the add-on payment.
• Facilities in good standing with the Department will be eligible to receive payment.
• Facilities with 50% or more Medicaid Long-term residents are eligible.

SFY 2027

The Department issued a Public Notice on September 30, 2025, notifying providers of the SFY 2027 quality measures. During calendar year 2026, nursing facilities must demonstrate improvement in at least one or more of the following four categories (as compared to calendar year 2025) in order to be eligible to receive a supplemental payment in SFY 2027.

• Percent of long-stay residents who lose too much weight
• Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection
• Percent of long-stay residents who received antipsychotic medication
• Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury

The supplemental payment will be based on each nursing facility’s overall ranking in each CMS Long Stay Quality Measure resulting in the nursing facility receiving a payment proportional to their improvement (e.g., a facility with the highest improvement will receive the highest supplemental payment for that measure).

• Facilities that demonstrate improvement will be eligible for the add-on payment.
• Facilities in good standing with the Department will be eligible to receive a payment.
• Facilities with 50% or more Medicaid Long-term residents are eligible.