Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Today (January 30, 2023), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), finalized the policies for the Medicare Advantage (MA) Risk Adjustment Data Validation (RADV) program, which is CMS’s primary audit and oversight tool of MA…… Continue reading CMS Issues Final Rule to Protect Medicare, Strengthen Medicare Advantage and Hold Insurers Accountable   

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare “As an Activity Professional, you are part of a vitally important profession that helps people live a life that is full of fun and meaningful activities. The holistic and person-directed approach to caring for our elders you provide is a sight to behold. You are the…… Continue reading National Activity Professionals Week: January 23– January 27, 2023 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The purpose of this Transmittal 11808 Change Request (CR) is to incorporate into Chapter 10 of Pub. 100-08 certain provider enrollment policies included in the Calendar Year (CY) 2023 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule.  The CR is dated January 24, 2023.  The Effective Date is…… Continue reading Incorporation of Recent Provider Enrollment Regulatory Changes into Chapter 10 of CMS Publication (Pub.) 100-08

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare                 My apologies for missing this important proposed rule!  CMS-4201-P was published in the Federal Register on December 27, 2022.  The subtitle of  this proposed rule is Contract Year 2024 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost…… Continue reading Still Time for Comment on Proposed Rule: CMS-4201-P

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare    COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe disease resulting in preventable deaths, thousands to hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and millions of illnesses each year in the United States. This combined disease burden can impose a strain on healthcare systems during periods of…… Continue reading CDC Releases Two Respiratory Disease Dashboards

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare    CMS posted QSO-23-06-ALL on January 19, 2023. CMS performs over 100,000 compliance surveys of Medicare and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers, each year. To increase compliance with CMS’ health and safety regulations, CMS has used the findings from those surveys to inform a series of short (10–15…… Continue reading Provider and Supplier Compliance Education Through Quality in Focus (QIF) Trainings

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On December 20, 2022, OSHA issued this Enforcement Memo – same title as this Blog. Purpose.The penalty information included in this memorandum is intended to supplement the penalties and debt collection information found in Chapter 6 of the Field Operations Manual (FOM). Tables included in this…… Continue reading 2023 Annual Adjustments to OSHA Civil Penalties

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted updated iQIES materials: iQIES Reports User Manual … Version 2.1 … January 11, 2023 S&C Job Aid – Roles Matrix Job Aid … Version 3.1 … January 9, 2023 No word yet from CMS as to the implementation date for transition to iQIES…… Continue reading iQIES Materials Updated 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Please join the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, and her leadership team, who will highlight CMS’ key 2022 accomplishments and look ahead to how our 2023 priorities will advance the CMS Strategic Plan. CMS serves the public as a trusted partner and…… Continue reading Quarterly National Stakeholder Call with CMS Administrator – January 24, 2023 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The purpose of the Third Edition Quality Reporting Program (QRP) COVID-19 Public Reporting (PR) Tip Sheets are to help providers understand CMS’ public reporting approach to the HH, IRF, LTCH, and SNF QRPs to account for CMS quality data submissions that were either optional or excepted…… Continue reading Third Edition QRP COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheets