Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On June 4, 2020, CMS posted QSO-20-32.  Read my blog on that notification here.  The subject matter of that QSO is the Release of COVID-19 Nursing Home Data.  Later that same day, another QSO was posted:  QSO 20-33-NH … Posting of Nursing Home Inspections. This seems…… Continue reading Posting of Nursing Home Inspections

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare “Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is posting the first set of underlying coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nursing home data. On April 19, 2020, CMS announced the requirement that nursing homes to inform residents, their families, and their representatives of COVID-19 cases in…… Continue reading BREAKING NEWS: Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspections Results Available on Nursing Home Compare

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Version 2 of CMS’ Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes is now available.  “The toolkit compiles best practices, resources and strategies to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic in nursing homes. Protecting this vulnerable population is critical and now, Governors, state health…… Continue reading Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes – Version 2

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS updated this website on Friday, May 29, 2020.  “Given their congregate nature and population served, assisted living facilities (ALFs) are at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 spreading among their residents. If infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, assisted living residents—often older adults with underlying…… Continue reading Updated Considerations for Preventing Spread of COVID-19 in Assisted Living Facilities

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has provided this chart/graphic with data as of June 1, 2020: Beneath the chart online are these notations: Nursing Home COVID-19 Data Source: CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). This data reflects data entered into the NHSN system by nursing homes as of May 24.…… Continue reading Initial Nursing Home COVID-19 Data – As of June 1, 2020

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On June 1, 2020, CMS revised and posted MLN Matters Special Edition Article SE20011 on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to clarify when you must use modifier CR (catastrophe/disaster related) and/or condition code DR (disaster related) when submitting…… Continue reading MLN Matters Special Editions – Clarifying Use of Modifier CR and/or Condition Code DR

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Topic: LTC COVID-19 Data Quality Tips and Tricks Description: Join us for a data quality webinar to address some frequent issues including common data errors and how to fix and avoid them. Time: June 10, 2020 … 1:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register…… Continue reading LTC COVID-19 Data Quality Webinar – NHSN (CDC)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Registration information for this second weekly session is now available here.      ________________________________________ Topic: Implementation Strategies for COVID-19 Surveillance and Early Detection Date: Thursday, June 4, 2020 Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET Advance Registration Required: Note: Once you register, you will receive an email with your…… Continue reading National Nursing Home Training Series: Implementation Strategies for COVID-19 Surveillance

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On May 27, 2020, the World Health Organization released an Interim Guidance: Clinical Management of COVID-19.  This is a 62-page document and it is the 3rd edition (v1.3). “This guidance document is intended for clinicians caring for COVID-19 patients during all phases of their disease (i.e.…… Continue reading WHO Releases Interim Guidance: Clinical Management of COVID-19

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Late afternoon, Monday, June 1, 2020 CMS “unveiled enhanced enforcement for nursing homes with violations of longstanding infection control practices. This announcement builds on the previous actions CMS has taken to ensure the safety and security of America’s nursing homes as the nation battles coronavirus disease…… Continue reading Enhanced Enforcement Actions Based on Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspection Results