Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This MLN Matters is found here with the corresponding Transmittal: R11641GI. The rates are provided in both documents. An excerpt from Background: Patients using covered Part A and Part B services may be subject to deductible and coinsurance requirements. Medicare subtracts an inpatient hospital deductible amount…… Continue reading Medicare Deductible, Coinsurance & Premium Rates Calendar Year 2023 Update

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Historically provider demographic data have been maintained in the Automated Survey Processing Environment or ASPEN software; however, CMS will be transitioning to use the demographic information from Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS).  While this transition is underway, a final date when all demographic data…… Continue reading Post-Acute Care (PAC) Quality Reporting Programs (QRP) Demographic Data Transition

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Each year on October 15, CDC works with global partners and colleagues to highlight Global Handwashing Day and raise awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap and water. Global Handwashing Day is a yearly reminder that handwashing with soap and water is one of the best steps we can take…… Continue reading Saturday, October 15, 2022 is Global Handwashing Day

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On August 30, Governor Tim Walz signed Executive Order 22-20, directing state agencies to implement cybersecurity measures to protect critical infrastructure in Minnesota. Your business is part of the 16 critical infrastructure types. Please review this 4-page Executive order for specific directions and deadlines. MDH leadership,…… Continue reading New Cybersecurity Requirements for State of Minnesota Critical Infrastructure Providers

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare President Biden designated October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month and encouraged the public and private sectors to take immediate action to protect against cyber threats in a White House press release. Cyberattacks affect our day-to-day lives, our economy, and our national security. By destroying, corrupting, or stealing information from…… Continue reading White House Designates October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP  Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS will be transitioning to a new data source for a provider’s demographic data for all five Post-Acute Care (PAC) provider types (Skilled Nursing Facilities / Nursing Facilities (SNF/NFs), Home Health Agencies (HHAs), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs), Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs) and Hospices).  These demographic…… Continue reading Updated Provider Demographic Data Process

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing a statement on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF-PAI) V4.0 and compliance with the Quality Reporting Program (QRP) to address concerns brought forth by the IRF provider community. Additionally, CMS is publishing a Q&A…… Continue reading CMS Statement on IRF PAI and Compliance with the QRP

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The September 2022 Release of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) data is now available on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC). The data are based on quality assessment data submitted by IRFs to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from…… Continue reading Care Compare September Release of IRF and LTCH QRP Data Now

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted the revised QSO-21-08-NLTC on Monday, September 26, 2022. This QSO Memorandum does not apply to Nursing Homes/LTC. Ending the COVID-19 FIC Survey and Tool for Acute and Continuing Care: Returning to the Existing Standard Survey Process CMS has always focused its regulatory and oversight…… Continue reading COVID-19 Focused Infection Control Survey Tool for Acute and Continuing Care Providers and Suppliers (REVISED)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) temporarily waived certain Medicare restrictions on telehealth—the delivery of some services via audio-only or video technology. Use of telehealth services increased from about 5 million services pre-waiver (April to December 2019) to…… Continue reading GAO Report: Medicare Telehealth – Actions Needed to Strengthen Oversight and Help Providers Educate Patients on Privacy and Security Risks