Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS revised and reposted QSO-20-41-ALL on May 26, 2022.  This QSO was “revised to provide additional guidance and clarifications due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).” The red ink (denoting the revised verbiage) begins on page 4 of this 14-page Memorandum and continues…… Continue reading Emergency Preparedness Training and Testing Program Exemption 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare TRAINING MATERIALS AVAILABLE: The Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) and Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Updated Guidance Virtual Training Program – Prerecorded Training Videos The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing a virtual training program that will review the updated guidance for the IRF…… Continue reading IRF and LTCH Updated Guidance Virtual Training Program

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