Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The NHSN Long-term Care Facility Component supports the nation’s COVID-19 response through the LTCF COVID-19 Module. Facilities eligible to report data to NHSN’s COVID-19 Module include nursing homes/skilled nursing, long-term care for the developmentally disabled, and assisted living. In response to H.R. 7105 – Veterans Healthcare…… Continue reading State Veterans Homes COVID-19 Tool (NHSN)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Texas Health and Human Services Commission issued PL 2021-19 on May 19, 2021.  This is definitely a must-read for TX LTC providers as it addresses “the process a person who has completed nurse aide tasks under the waiver during the COVID-19 public health emergency can…… Continue reading TEXAS LTC PROVIDERS: Certification Process for Nurse Aides Training and Working Under a Waiver

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Five Star Preview Reports will be available on May 18, 2021. 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, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted an update to Appendix B of the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual.  The May update contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, RAI Panel members, and CMS Locations contacts. For quick reference, this month’s changes are:

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Nursing homes have been at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents in these homes have been particularly affected by the disease, as they are predominantly elderly individuals who have underlying medical conditions and live in close quarters. To prevent and mitigate future outbreaks, it is…… Continue reading OIG Work Plan: Meeting the Challenges Presented by COVID-19: Nursing Homes

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare In case you missed my blog last month on the PEPPER reports and the training session, I’m writing today to remind you.  Here’s the specifics: Register here.  The 25-slide handout for this webinar is available now. 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS held another nursing home stakeholder call yesterday afternoon that provided an opportunity to discuss the May 11th Interim Final Rule – COVID-19 Vaccine Immunization Requirements for Residents and Staff … QSO-21-19-NH and answer a few questions.  (Additional links and info are found in this blog.)  …… Continue reading National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call – May 13, 2021

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This information is for Medicaid Certified Facility Administrators, the Facility CMR Portal Director, and all staff who schedule MDS’ and those who bill for a resident’s stay. Change to the ANNUAL CASE MIX ELECTION FOR RESIDENTS WHO STAY 14 DAYS OR LESS The Annual Case Mix…… Continue reading MN: Change to the Annual Case Mix Election for Residents Who Stay 14 Days or Less

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare As part of the ongoing response to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and to improve health care access and reduce the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a rule, on May 11, 2021, that will ensure long-term…… Continue reading National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call on May 13, 2021

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted an updated QSO-21-17 … Updates to Long-Term Care (LTC) Emergency Regulatory Waivers Issued in Response to COVID-19 on May 10, 2021. I blogged on the original posting of this QSO on April 8, 2021.   May 10, 2021 was the effective end date of those…… Continue reading Verbiage Clarification for QSO-21-17 -> Four Emergency Waivers Ending