Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare An updated version of the PDPM Grouper has been posted in the Downloads section below with the new version number V2.0002 and will be implemented into the MDS ASAP system on Thursday, January 6, 2022. This update addresses two issues with the NTA comorbidities mapping. First,…… Continue reading PDPM Grouper Updated – Again

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The December 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.  This update was posted on December 17, 2021, however it is dated December 30, 2021.  Changes…… Continue reading December 2021 Update – Appendix B of the RAI User’s Manual

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On December 23, 2021, CMS issued Admin Info: 22-02-ALL. This QSO carries the same title as this blog. This is a 36-page QSO Memorandum with the SOP beginning on page 6. Here’s the Table of Contents for the SOP: Effective Date: The transition of certification enrollment…… Continue reading Transitioning Certification Functions for Changes of Ownership, Administrative Changes, and Initial Enrollment Performed by the CMS Survey and Operations Group

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The federal government is committed to ensuring that residents and staff in long-term care settings, such as nursing homes, assisted living, residential care communities, group homes and senior housing, have access to COVID-19 vaccines to get primary series and booster shots. Long-term care providers are encouraged…… Continue reading COVID-19 Vaccine Access in Long-Term Care Settings

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS is providing clarification to recent guidance for visitation (see CMS memorandum QSO-20-39-NH REVISED 11/12/2021). While CMS cannot address every aspect of visitation that may occur, we provide additional details about certain scenarios below. However, the bottom line is visitation must be permitted at all times…… Continue reading Nursing Home Visitation – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS released 21 Nursing Home Datasets on December 8th and 9th, 2021. FY 2022 SNF VBP Facility-Level Dataset This dataset contains facility-specific performance information for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program. Included are baseline period (FY 2018) and performance…… Continue reading CMS Releases 21 New Nursing Home Datasets

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted the latest version of the Nursing Home Compare Five-Star Quality Rating System_Technical Users’ Guide_State-Level Health Inspection Cut Point Table-November 2021on December 8, 2021. The Star Cut Points for Health Inspection Scores – by State – (11-01-2021) are found on the last 2 pages of…… Continue reading Five-Star Quality Rating System State-Level Cut Point Tables Updated

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the recording and transcript from the National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call … November 23, 2021(the day before Thanksgiving). The recording is just a few seconds beyond 39 minutes.  You’ll find the transcript on the right side of this website.  The Passcode to access…… Continue reading CMS National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call (November 23, 2021)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted QSO-22-04-ALL the afternoon of December 2, 2021. Here’s an excerpt from that QSO Memorandum (bolding and italics added by me): “On November 29 and November 30, 2021, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and United States District Court for…… Continue reading Vaccination Regulation: Enforcement of Rule Imposing Vaccine Requirement for Health Care Staff in Medicare- and Medicaid-certified Providers and Suppliers is Suspended so Long as Court Ordered Injunctions Remain in Effect