Short-Term acute care hospitals receive their PEPPER via QualityNet Portal at https://www.qualitynet.org/.

View information on how to download your PEPPER via QualityNet Portal.

To download or save to your computer any of the files on this page, right click on the file name (link) and select "Save Target As...". To receive updates on training and other resources, please join our email list.

ST PEPPER TESTIMONIALs

• Learn how a Pennsylvania-based hospital system (PDF) uses PEPPER to support compliance risk assessment.
• Learn how a Massachusetts hospital (PDF) monitors SNF-qualifying admissions using PEPPER.
• Learn how a Kentucky hospital (PDF) identified underpayments with the help of their PEPPER.

Current PEPPER User's Guide:

• Short-Term Acute Care PEPPER User’s Guide (PDF, 30th Edition)

Jurisdictions:

• View a list of the 12 MAC jurisdictions and the number of hospitals in each jurisdiction in total and by state for PEPPER version Q2FY20 (XLSX).

PEPPER Training Sessions

• Access a complete series of PEPPER training sessions, available as ten “chapters” for ease of access. A review of a sample ST PEPPER is also available.
• September 10, 2020 ST PEPPER Review:This webinar reviews the PEPPER for Short-Term Acute Care Hospitals, version Q2FY20, released in early September, 2020. It included the history/background of PEPPER, a high-level review of the target areas, a walk-through of a sample PEPPER to include the new format, and guidance for accessing the PEPPER. PowerPoint slides (PDF), the Q&As (PDF) or transcript (PDF) for this PEPPER review.
• New ST PEPPER Format: This session reviews changes to the ST PEPPER for greater accessibility, cleaner presentation and improved readability. Download the PowerPoint slides (PDF) or the transcript (PDF) for this PEPPER recording.

Demonstration PEPPER:

• Demonstration PEPPER version Q2FY20 (XLSX)

Other Resources:

• Refer to this document for guidance on how to create a listing of patients included in the PEPPER target areas (PDF).
• Spinal Fusion Services: Documentation Requirements from Noridian (January 2015)
• View the list of ST PEPPER target areas (PDF, updated with PEPPER version Q4FY19).
• History of Target Area Changes (PDF): This document identifies revisions to existing target areas that have been implemented since the Q1FY16 release. It includes a description of the revision and the expected impact in terms of the number of hospitals that have "reportable data" (numerator count of 11+) for the target area. This document will be updated on an ongoing basis.
• Access the Medicare Claims Processing Manual (PDF)
• View this slide presentation (PPT, updated 7-11-2013) on percents and percentiles to help understand the differences between “percent” and “percentile” and how they are used in PEPPER.
• View a demonstration (DOC, updated 12-10-2014) Compare Targets report, with associated hospital target area data and graph.