Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted these 2 updated data sets on June 9, 2022: The direct links to the datasets are: COVID-19 Vaccination Rates – State and National AveragesCOVID-19 Vaccination Rates – Provider Data 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare As you know, today (June 10, 2022) is the deadline for stakeholders to submit comments on the FY2023 SNF PPS Proposed Rule. Lots of stakeholders have already provided comment (over 3,000 as of yesterday) and the window is open until 5pm ET today. In case…… Continue reading MedPAC Comments: FY2023 SNF PPS Proposed Rule

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted an update to the LTC Survey Process on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The Revision History for LTC Survey Process Documents and Files is found here. CMS corrected the version of Appendix PP back to the 2017 (2018 revision was a typo) for the…… Continue reading CMS Updates LTC Survey Process Materials

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS just posted the updated Electronic Staffing Data Submission Long-Term Care Facility Policy Manual – v2.6 … June 2022. This version is 22-pages in length. The red ink begins on page 1-3 with extensive updates on pages 2-2 and 2-3. Then on page 2-10: The…… Continue reading Updated PBJ Manual – Version 2.6 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has provided a routine update of the SNF 3-Day Rule Billing Fact Sheet for May 2022.  No substantive changes were made from the previous version. The Fact Sheet speaks to the existence of the waiver of the QHS (qualifying hospital stay) during the PHE.…… Continue reading SNF 3-Day Rule Billing Fact Sheet Updated

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Despite substantial effort over the past 20 years, preventable harm in health care remains a major concern in the United States. Though many evidence-based, effective best practices related to harm reduction have been identified, they are seldom shared nationally and implemented effectively across multiple organizations.…… Continue reading National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety (IHI) 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare NHSN has posted the Long-term Care Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting Changes and Updates slides that correspond with the update provided in late May. The 45-slide deck includes: AND AND NHSN also posted an updated COVID-19 Vaccination Modules: Understanding Key Terms (4 pages) on May 23,…… Continue reading Updates to Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting: Long-Term Care Facilities (Slide Deck)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP  Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On May 25, 2022, CMS posted the Five-Star State-Level Cut Point Tables for the month of May. The Five Star Quality Rating System Technical Users’ Guide: State Level Health Inspection Cut Point Table – provides the data for the state-level cut points for the star…… Continue reading Five-Star State-Level Cut Point Tables Posted – May 2022

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Emergency preparedness plans capture a nursing home’s approach to meeting the health, safety, and security needs of staff and residents during an emergency or disaster. The written emergency preparedness plan should be a comprehensive plan that includes a risk assessment based on an all-hazards approach,…… Continue reading Incorporating Infection Prevention and Control into an Emergency Preparedness Plan

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted this month’s update of Appendix B on May 25, 2022. Appendix B contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, RAI Panel members, and CMS locations and contacts. This is the updated Appendix B.May’s changes to Appendix B are:…… Continue reading May 2022 Update of Appendix B – RAI User’s Manual