Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Five Star Preview Reports will be available on February 22, 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 the…… Continue reading Five-Star Preview Reports Available

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The latest update to the LTCSP was posted late in the day Tuesday, February 22, 2022: [Note: If you print the above Revision History document found beneath the hyperlink, you need only print the first 2 pages as page 3 on this version of the history…… Continue reading CMS Updates LTC Survey Process Again (3rd Time in 30 Days)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CDC updated the SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing in Long Term Care Facilitieslanding page as well as the algorithm on February 17, 2022. Considerations for Interpretation of SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Tests in Long-Term Care Facilities now looks like this:

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted the monthly update to RAI 3.0 User’s Manual … Appendix B on February 16, 2022. the direct link to Appendix B (carries a date of February 24, 2022)the direct link to the Changes to Appendix B

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Still working your way through the CMS QSO Memorandums on HC Staff Vaccination? Looking for some additional guidance on precautions for your unvaccinated staff? AHCA/NCAL offers this information.  The posting date is February 11, 2022. “The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) staff vaccination rule…… Continue reading Guidance on Implementing Additional Precautions for Unvaccinated Staff Under CMS Vaccine Mandate (AHCA/NCAL)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This blog title is the same as the title of a February 17, 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation data note.  It is an interesting read, to be sure. “This data note presents completed vaccination and booster rates among nursing home staff, by state. This analysis does not…… Continue reading Nursing Home Staff Vaccination Rates Vary Widely by State as Vaccination Mandates Take Effect 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Nursing homes face a broad range of challenges from public emergencies, such as emerging infectious disease outbreaks and natural disasters. To protect residents and prevent disruption of care during emergencies, nursing homes must develop and maintain an emergency preparedness program that addresses a wide range of…… Continue reading Nursing Home Capabilities and Collaboration to Ensure Resident Care During Emergencies

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted an updated version of the Five-Star Users’ Guide 2022 – Updated 2/15/2022 (PDF) on February 15, 2022.  The first January 2022 version was posted on January 14, 2022. Here’s what’s new in the updated version: The addition of the Table of Contents brings the…… Continue reading January 2022 Five-Star Users’ Guide Updated Again

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare AHCA/NCAL’s BLS January Jobs Report provides data for LTC, in particular to digest: Note also that Assisted Living communities have also lost staff – 6.7% as have Hospitals (2%) and Home Health agencies (1.7%). Additional information can be found here.

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The submission deadline for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) is approaching. MDS assessment data for July 1 – September 30 (Q3) of CY 2021 (is) due with this submission deadline. All data must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on February…… Continue reading Reminder: SNF QRP Upcoming Data Submission Deadline