Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare OIG (Office of Inspector General) has added SNF reimbursement to its work plan this month. A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a nursing home that provides skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services such as physical, speech, and occupational therapy to beneficiaries who need assistance after hospitalization.…… Continue reading OIG Adds SNF Reimbursement to Work Plan + NH COVID-19 Challenges

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare [This reminder was mentioned during the April 15, 2021 SNF/LTC Open Door Forum however I wasn’t able to understand the email address provided verbally by the CMS individual.  I found the same message online at the SNF QRP Spotlights and Announcements page.] Non-Critical Access Hospital (CAH)…… Continue reading Important QRP Reminder for Non-CAH Swing Beds

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare In addition to the March 26, 2021 update to the LTC Survey Process, CMS has uploaded 2 additional updates as of April 8, 2021.  The April updates consist of: An updated F-Tag Waiver Guide which shows the terminated waivers.  This guide is found in the Survey…… Continue reading Updates to Nursing Home Survey Process Documents

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On Thursday, April 8, 2021, CMS issued QSO-21-17-NH. This is an important QSO memorandum for all LTC providers so review it carefully!   CMS is ending select emergency blanket waivers. CMS is only ending the waivers at 42 CFR §483.10(e)(6) for providing written notice before a room/roommate…… Continue reading Updates to LTC Emergency Regulatory Waivers Issued in Response to COVID-19

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Late on the afternoon of April 8, 2021, CMS issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies and rates for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) under the SNF Prospective Payment System (PPS) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. In addition, the proposed rule includes proposals for…… Continue reading SNF Prospective Payment System: FY 2022 Proposed Rule

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Q4FY20 release of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) is now available for download through the PEPPER Resources Portal. To obtain your SNF PEPPER: Visit the PEPPER Resources Portal.Complete all the fields.Download your PEPPER. Go to the SNF “Training…… Continue reading Skilled Nursing Facility PEPPER Report Available

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum scheduled for:   Date:  Thursday, April 15, 2021 Start Time:  2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) Please dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time. Conference Leaders: Todd Smith &…… Continue reading Upcoming SNF/LTC Open Door Forum – April 15, 2021

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The QIES Technical Support Office posted this notification on April 1, 2021: Attention QIES Users: CMS is in compliance with disposition authority N1-440-09-03 and only retains assessment and supporting data that is less than 10 years old in the QIES National database. Therefore, assessment-based quality measures generated…… Continue reading MDS Long Stay Residents in CASPER

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing a video tutorial that depicts a scenario that demonstrates the interview of a resident and subsequent coding of D0200. Resident Mood Interview (PHQ-9©) and D0300. Total Severity Score. Various interviewing tips and techniques are highlighted in the video to promote accurate coding. The video tutorial…… Continue reading New Training Video: Resident Mood Interview (PHQ-9) for the SNF Setting

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP                                                                                                                                        Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The State-Level Health Inspection Cut Point Table for the Five-Star Technical User’s Guide has been updated for March 2021. This distribution is based on CMS experience and input from the Project’s TEP. The cut points are recalibrated each month so that the distribution of star…… Continue reading Five-Star State-Level Health Inspection Cut Point Table – March 2021