Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted the following message on January 4, 2022: The MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual V15.0 and accompanying Risk Adjustment Appendix File for MDS 3.0 Quality Measure User’s Manual V15 have been posted. The MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual V15.0 contains detailed specifications for the MDS 3.0 quality…… Continue reading MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual Version 15.0 Now Available

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