Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS revised Admin Info: 22-02-ALL on May 19, 2022. To improve efficiency in the enrollment process for Medicare-participating certified providers and suppliers, CMS is transitioning certain certification-enrollment functions performed by the CMS Locations to CMS’ CPI/PEOG and the MACs. The transition of workload will continue to…… Continue reading CMS Administrative Memo Revised: Transition Several Providers and Suppliers and Provide Additional Guidance and Updates to the Standard Operating Procedures 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare OVERVIEW This COCA Call will present what clinicians need to know about monkeypox including guidance about the typical clinical presentation, treatment options, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and reporting to public health authorities. What Clinicians Need to Know about Monkeypox in the United States and Other…… Continue reading CDC COCA Call Today: What Clinicians Need to Know About Monkeypox + CDC Advisory 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria 2015 – 2020 (2015 Plan) has guided the U.S. Government’s response to combating antibiotic-resistant infections since its establishment in 2015. The U.S. Government’s Interagency Task Force for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB) has produced four previous reports on progress…… Continue reading National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: Year 5 Report

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CDC updated the Recommendations for People with COVID-19 and COVID-19 Close Contacts infographic and landing page on May 18, 2022.  Both infographs are available in Spanish as well.

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Here’s another infection that you may have heard about this week in the media. I’ve been aware of this virus for a few years now on an international basis, but this is a first for the virus being present here in the U.S., much less outside…… Continue reading Monkeypox Case(s) in the U.S.

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The World Health Organization (WHO) posted its first ever Global Report on Infection Prevention and Control – Executive Summary on May 6, 2022.  This is a 30-page document. “This document provides a detailed summary of the content of the WHO global report on infection prevention and…… Continue reading WHO Launches First Ever Global Report on Infection Prevention and Control

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare May is National Mental Health Awareness month.  OSHA provides today’s daily reminder. Suicide is a leading cause of death among working age adults in the United States. It deeply impacts workers, families, and communities. Fortunately, like other workplace fatalities, suicides can be prevented. I encourage you…… Continue reading Suicide Prevention – 5 Things You Should Know  

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing a virtual training program that will review the updated guidance for the IRF-PAI 4.0 and the LCDS 5.0 for providers in the IRF and LTCH settings. Part 1 of the Virtual Training Program is now available.…… Continue reading Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) and Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Updated Guidance Virtual Training Program 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On April 7, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a national policy for coverage of aducanumab (brand name Aduhelm™) and any future monoclonal antibodies directed against amyloid approved by the FDA with an indication for use in treating Alzheimer’s disease. From the onset, CMS ran a…… Continue reading CMS Stakeholder Call on the Medicare Coverage Policy for Monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against Amyloid for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted Change Request 12723 – Transmittal 11399 on May 4, 2022.  Pages 2 and 3 of the 7-page Transmittal speak to the background and the policy.  The manual changes are found (in red font) on the last 3 pages: Effective July 1, 2021, the Centers…… Continue reading Revisions to Medicare Part B Coverage of Pneumococcal Vaccinations for the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 15