Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Just minutes ago, CMS posted the DRAFT version of the MDS Item Sets that LTC providers will use next October. The posting notification contains this statement: “Please note that Section G has been removed from all Federal item sets.”  (I think I hear cheering in…… Continue reading CMS Posts DRAFT Version of the 2020 MDS Item Sets (v1.18.0)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum scheduled for: Date:  Thursday, December 12, 2019 Start Time:  2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) Please dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time.  This call will be Conference…… Continue reading SNF/LTC Open Door Forum – December 12, 2019

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted an update – version 1.7.2 – on the QTSO website December 2, 2019.  Providers that utilize jRAVEN for MDS encoding/submission should update their software ASAP. Release Notes jRAVEN (version 1.7.2) is now available for download which contains the following updates: A defect has…… Continue reading jRAVEN Users – Update Available

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Nursing Home Infection Control Worksheet web-based surveyor training is now available. “This 2019 Nursing Home Infection Control Worksheet (ICWS) is a collaborative effort by CMS and CDC and meant to be used by facilities as a self-assessment tool. It comprises both regulatory requirements and…… Continue reading Nursing Home Infection Control Worksheet

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has updated the following sections of the CASPER Reporting User’s Guide for MDS 3.0 Providers: MDS 3.0 Nursing Home Provider Reports – Section 6 MDS 3.0 Swing Bed Provider Reports – Section 8 MDS 3.0 Swing Bed Final Validation Report – Section 9 CASPER…… Continue reading CMS Updates CASPER Reports and User’s Guides

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On November 19, 2019, CMS posted a Revision History for LTC Survey Process Documents and Files.  The revision history notes the changes within the LTCSP Procedure Guide that are effective November 25, 2019. The Long Term Care Survey Procedure Guide is 58 pages in length. …… Continue reading CMS Updates LTC Survey Procedure

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Today – November 22, 2019 – CMS posted QSO-20-03-NH with the same title as this blog.  There are 4 very important updates and initiatives identified in this notification: Phase 3 (RoP) Interpretive Guidance Arbitration Agreements Actions to Improve Infection Prevention and Control in LTC Facilities…… Continue reading Updates and Initiatives to Ensure Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare From September to December 2018, OIG (Office of Inspector General) conducted unannounced site visits of 20 nursing homes in California (there are 1,202 such facilities in this state) from a nonstatistical sample that included a number of high-risk deficiencies that California reported to CMS.  OIG…… Continue reading California Should Improve Oversight w/Federal Requirements for Life Safety/Emergency Preparedness

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS updated Appendix B of the current RAI User’s Manual on October 31, 2019.  This 6-page listing was previously updated in late August 2019.   Appendix B contains current information, including email addresses, for: State RAI Coordinators RAI Coordinator Panel Members State MDS Automation Coordinators CMS…… Continue reading CMS Updates Appendix B of the October 2019 RAI User’s Manual

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has just announced that is holding a “limited number” of SNF Claims (bolding added by me): “As CMS has undertaken the implementation of the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM), we are holding a limited number of Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) claims while we make…… Continue reading CMS Holding Limited Number of SNF Claims