Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This resource provides nursing home clinicians with an easy-to-use guide that outlines steps to safely and correctly administer an intramuscular injection, like the COVID-19, flu, pneumonia, and shingles vaccines. This reference tool provides best practices for administering intramuscular injections, including photos of proper technique. It also…… Continue reading IM Injections—Best Practices for Safe Vaccine Administration in Nursing Homes

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This Information is intended for nursing home Administrators, Directors of Nursing, Minimum Data Set (MDS) Nurses, residents, families, and other interested parties related to the changes to the reconsideration process and scheduling of the MDS 3.0 in Minnesota. The 2021 CMR Program Statute Changes webinar recording…… Continue reading Minnesota LTC Providers: 2021 CMR Program Statute Changes (Recording)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare As a contracted provider of services for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the responsibilities of your organization are vital to the health and safety of Texans, especially during the ongoing pandemic. HHSC understands that the pandemic affects providers in many ways, including impacts on…… Continue reading Texas Providers: COVID-19 Impact Survey – Your Participation Counts

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a web-based training course that provides an overview of the assessment and coding of K0200: Height and Weight and K0500: Nutritional Approaches. This 30-minute course is intended for providers in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and is…… Continue reading NEW TRAINING AVAILABLE – Section K: Height, Weight and Nutritional Approaches for SNF Providers

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare “GAO was asked to examine SNF staffing and rates of critical incidents. This report [published August 9, 2021 … 63 pages; Highlights found here] examines (among other objectives): SNF performance on staffing measures, CMS reporting of staffing information on Care Compare, and Medicare payments for critical…… Continue reading GAO Report: Additional Reporting on Key Staffing Information and Stronger Payment Incentives Needed for Skilled Nursing Facilities

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) and Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2258-MC-FFS on August 6, 2021. Provisions of the 2021 Iowa Acts, House File (HF) 891, Section 31, required the IME to implement an increase to nursing facility rates effective July 1,…… Continue reading Iowa Nursing Facility Reimbursement Rates

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) and Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) issued a correction to INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2257-MC-FFS after business hours on Friday, August 6, 2021. This updated document contains the correct link for grant applications. For the complete requirements and for interested qualified…… Continue reading Correct Link for Civil Money Penalty Quality Improvement Initiative (CMPQII) Grant

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) and Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2257-MC-FFS on August 6, 2021. The purpose of this Informational Letter is to announce the availability of the CMPQII Grants for 2021. Section 1919 of the Social Security Act and Iowa…… Continue reading 2021 Civil Money Penalty Quality Improvement Initiative (CMPQII) Grant