Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® CMS issued a Notice of Final Rule Adjusting Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs) for Inflation on Tuesday, January 2019.  As noted in the above Memorandum Summary found in QSO 19-04-NH/HHA/CLIA, the new CMP amounts and ranges are effective October 11, 2018. Final Rule – Adjustment of Civil…… Continue reading Notice of Final Rule Adjusting Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs) for Inflation

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

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® The August 30, 2018 edition of MLN Connects provides a great Fact Sheet for all health care professionals as well as health care organizations. Here’s a sample of the topics and resources available in this Fact Sheet: Medical Privacy Health Care Professionals’ Privacy Guide HIPAA…… Continue reading Medical Privacy of Protected Health Information

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® The QIES Technical Support Office website has undergone a dramatic updating! It has a brand new look – much easier to read and navigate. When one explores by topic and selects Reference & Manuals then tools, the descriptors for CASPER, OASIS and MDS show in…… Continue reading New Look to QTSO.Com Website