Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This special CMS call concluded a few minutes ago.  It was an SOS call, if you will – you could sense the gravity and seriousness by the tone of the introduction and throughout the call.  Seema Verma, CMS Administrator, began the call by say that CMS…… Continue reading Report: Special COVID-19 Nursing Home Call with Seema Verma – Thursday, August 13, 2020

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The following was sent via email this morning.  This call was also promoted during the CMS Nursing Home Call yesterday afternoon – no additional details were provided with the exception that it was special and would be hosted by Seema Verma.  CMS Administrator Seema Verma is…… Continue reading TODAY!! Special COVID-19 Nursing Home Call with Seema Verma – Thursday, August 13, 2020

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare FAQs: COVID-19 Testing at Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Homes was updated August 5, 2020.  This is an 8-page document that answers questions about COVID testing, safety precautions during testing, provider order for testing, reporting, CLIA certificates, etc. CDC updated this return to work guidance again on Monday,…… Continue reading COVID-19 Updated and New Information – Early August 2020

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has updated Nursing Home Infection Control Surveys as of August 6, 2020.  This information comes in the form of Excel spreadsheets in a .zip file. You can also access this information on the Five-Star Quality Rating System webpage.  Scroll down to the bottom of the…… Continue reading COVID-19 NH Data and Nursing Home Infection Control Surveys Data Updated

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare AHCA/NCAL has posted two (2) general population at-a-glance graphics:        PPE shortages by state andCOVID-19 positivity The data displayed on the testing positivity graphic is from July 26, 2020; the source is Johns Hopkins University and the COVID Tracking Project.  The percent of NHs with less than…… Continue reading State-By-State Breakdown: PPE Supplies and COVID-19 Testing Positivity Rates

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Please join CMS Administrator Seema Verma for a National Stakeholder call today Tuesday, August 4th at 6:30 PM Eastern. Phone lines are limited, so we encourage you to join via webcast, if possible. Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820  Conference ID: 2853889 Webcast link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=6530a94e-39648065-65309871-0cc47a6d17cc-b9220ebf09cd50ea&u=https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=07435b48-5b174234-07436a77-0cc47adc5fa2-424bd2b6abf4b1eb&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2436  For yesterday’s…… Continue reading NEW TIME for CMS Stakeholder Call on Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Topic: COVID-19 Surveillance to Enable Early Detection and Response to Outbreaks: National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Mandatory Data Collection Date: Thursday, August 6, 2020 Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET Advance Registration Required: Register here. Note: Once you register, you will receive an email with…… Continue reading COVID-19 Surveillance to Enable Early Detection and Response to Outbreaks: NHSN Mandatory Data Collection (Webinar)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This Press Release announced CMS changes as well as an Executive Order signed on Monday, August 3, 2020. “The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing changes to expand telehealth permanently, consistent with the Executive Order on Improving Rural and Telehealth Access that President…… Continue reading Administration Proposes to Expand Telehealth Benefits Permanently for Medicare Beneficiaries Beyond the COVID-19 PHE and Advances Access to Care in Rural Areas

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare I just learned of a new article that will soon be published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society – COVID-19 in Nursing Homes: Calming the Perfect Storm.  This 31-page article is a definite must-read!  This special article was prepared for JAGS with final submission on…… Continue reading COVID-19 in Nursing Homes: Calming the Perfect Storm

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The CDC has updated these resources during the past week: Interim Guidance for Use of Pooling Procedures in SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic, Screening, and Surveillance TestingResources for Laboratories Working on Coronavirus (COVID-19)Toolkit for Retirement CommunitiesConsiderations for Retirement Communities and Independent Living FacilitiesInterim Guidelines for COVID-19 Antibody TestingInvestigating and…… Continue reading COVID-19 Guidance Updates for Last Week of July 2020