Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® The Final Rule for hazardous waste disposal was signed by Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler on December 11, 2018 however it cannot be published in the Federal Register yet due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. The pre-publication of the unofficial Final Rule…… Continue reading Final Rule – EPA Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted a revised MLN Matters Fact Sheet – HIPAA Basics for Providers: Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules. The 8-page Fact Sheet addresses: The Privacy Rule, which sets national standards for when protected health information (PHI) may be used and disclosed. The Security…… Continue reading Revised HIPAA Basics for Providers Fact Sheet

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® The Office of Inspector General issued its Fall 2018 Semi-Annual Report to Congress on December 3, 2018.   The period covered by this 90-page report is April 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018. Highlights of OIG Accomplishments: Identifying Improper Payments and Opportunities for Savings in HHS…… Continue reading OIG Fall 2018 Semi-Annual Report to Congress

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® While implementing a mandatory influenza vaccination policy for health care personnel is not required by the federal government or any regulatory agency, employers can influence the vaccination status of their employees.  “Influenza vaccination requirements work; they are the only intervention that have consistently raised influenza…… Continue reading Guidance for LTC Leaders Planning to Implement an Influenza Vaccination Requirement Policy for Health Care Personnel to Improve Influenza Vaccination

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® QSOG is a new acronym for me and possibly for our readers as well. In short, it references the program we’ve known for a long time as Survey & Certification. The mission of the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group, formerly known as the Survey &…… Continue reading QSOG Mission and Priority Information

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® It’s mid-October. Do you know if your staff are vaccinated again influenza? What are you doing to promote and increase vaccination rates for your staff? Where are you with promoting vaccination for the individuals that live in and visit your facility? It takes a village…… Continue reading It’s Flu Season Again! Are you Prepared??

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® CMS has just issued a revised special edition MLN Matters (SE18021) on Hurricane Michael and Medicare Disaster Related Florida and Georgia Claims. President Trump has declared a state of emergency for the states of Florida and Georgia, and the HHS Secretary declared a Public Health…… Continue reading Hurricane-Related CMS Information Releases: Hurricane Michael and Medicare Disaster Related Florida and Georgia Claims Extraordinary Circumstances Extension / Exception (ECE) due to Hurricane Florence