Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted QSO-20-39-NH … Nursing Home Visitation (Revised) on September 23, 2022. The above are two (2) excerpts from the updated 14-page QSO Memorandum.  The last five (5) pages of the Memorandum contain fifteen (15) updated FAQs:

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS issued a revised QSO-20-38-NH Memorandum on Friday, September 23, 2022. The first revision is found on page 3 of the 10-page Memorandum: Instruct facility staff, regardless of their vaccination status, to report any of the following criteria to occupational health or another point of contact…… Continue reading Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC, Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency related to LTC Facility Testing Requirements

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare An update to the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Annual Payment Update (APU) Table for Reporting Assessment-Based quality measures (QMs) and standardized patient assessment data elements to CMS is now available. This document has been updated to reflect the data elements that will…… Continue reading SNF QRP APU Table for Reporting Assessment-Based QM and Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements and Data Collection and Final Submission Deadlines Affecting FY 2025

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Five Star Preview Reports will be available on (Monday) September 26, 2022. To access these reports, select the CASPER Reporting link located on the CMS QIES Systems for Providers page. Once in the CASPER Reporting system, select the ‘Folders’ button, then select ‘My Inbox’ or…… Continue reading Five-Star Preview Reports Available September 26, 2022

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare An updated table providing the data collection time frames and final submission deadlines for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) is available in the Downloads section of this webpage. The direct link is here. A table providing the data collection time…… Continue reading SNF QRP Data Collection & Final Submission Deadlines for FY 2024 and FY 2025

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare An update to the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document is now available. This document has been updated to reflect the finalized policies for the SNF QRP in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 and includes other useful resources available to providers.…… Continue reading SNF QRP FAQs for FY 2023

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On September 24 2022, a minor update to the MDS ASAP system will occur.  Items included in this release include: * Update to the list of ICD-10 codes allowable in item I0020B for PPS and stand-alone OBRAs as of 10/1/2022.  The list of allowable codes for…… Continue reading MDS ASAP Update Effective 10/1/2022

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The September update of Appendix B to the RAI 3.0 User’s Manual contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, RAI Panel members, and CMS locations and contacts. The file is located in the Downloads section of this website. The direct link to the September Appendix B…… Continue reading September 2022 Appendix B (RAI User’s Manual) Update

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Wednesday, September 14, 2022, the GAO posted its review (same title as this blog) of infection prevention and control in nursing homes.  The document is 61 pages in length. A corresponding 7- minute podcast is found here. The CARES Act directs GAO to monitor the federal…… Continue reading COVID-19 in Nursing Homes: CMS Needs to Continue to Strengthen Oversight of Infection Prevention and Control

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Yesterday (Tuesday, September 13, 2022) was World Sepsis Day. Here’s some information from the CDC on this very important topic: Today is World Sepsis Day–a day where people come together to raise awareness about the fight against sepsis–a life-threatening medical emergency that affects millions of people…… Continue reading World Sepsis Day: Long-Term Care Settings