Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing for co-circulating influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this fall and winter. Vaccines can provide life-saving protection against all three viral respiratory diseases. CDC recommends these vaccines for older adults, who are at a…… Continue reading Preparing for the Upcoming Respiratory Virus Season: Recommendations for Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV Vaccines for Older Adults
Welcome to the Nursing Home Resource Center!
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This week (week of September 5, 2023), CMS is officially launching its updated homepages. You can preview the beta website for the Nursing Home Resource Center here as well as make comments on what you see. Scroll down the page to find these resources and links:…… Continue reading Welcome to the Nursing Home Resource Center!
August Update to Appendix B, RAI 3.0 User’s Manual
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The August update of Appendix B to the RAI 3.0 User’s Manual contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, RAI Panel members, and CMS locations and contacts. Appendix B_August 2023 Changes to Appendix B_August 2023
Nursing Homes Reported Wide-Ranging Challenges Preparing for Public Health Emergencies and Natural Disasters
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Although most nursing homes met Federal emergency preparedness requirements, an estimated 77 percent reported challenges with preparedness activities intended to ensure that resident care needs are met during an emergency. The most frequently cited concerns among nursing homes were ensuring proper staffing during emergencies and transporting…… Continue reading Nursing Homes Reported Wide-Ranging Challenges Preparing for Public Health Emergencies and Natural Disasters
HHS Proposes Minimum Staffing Standards to Enhance Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare As expected, HHS announced on Friday, September 1, 2023, its minimum staffing proposal. The expectation fulfilled CMS’ practice of “big-ticket” announcements immediately prior to a holiday and a few days after yet another premature posting of a research study on the same topic. How fitting that…… Continue reading HHS Proposes Minimum Staffing Standards to Enhance Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes
Latest Nursing Home COVID-19 Data From CMS, CDC and NHSN
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the nursing home COVID-19 data for the week ending August 30, 2023. Comparing the August 30th data to the August 6th data (24 days apart): Residents up to date with the vaccines decreased 0.1% Staff up to date with the vaccines remains the same…… Continue reading Latest Nursing Home COVID-19 Data From CMS, CDC and NHSN
Recruitment Announcement – Technical Expert Panel (TEP) for the Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model (HHVBP)
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Abt Associates is currently recruiting a wide range of home health stakeholders—for example, providers, patient advocates, and methodologists/researchers with expertise in areas such as performance measurement, quality of care, and health equity—to participate in a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) to provide input on potential refinements to…… Continue reading Recruitment Announcement – Technical Expert Panel (TEP) for the Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model (HHVBP)
Home Health PPS Grouper Software (HHGS) Package
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The October 2023 release of the HH PPS Grouper software (v04.2.23) is now available in the “Downloads” section of this webpage. Included in the v04.2.23 HH PPS Grouper software update are the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) diagnosis codes, effective beginning October 1, 2023. The…… Continue reading Home Health PPS Grouper Software (HHGS) Package
Important Updates on Locally Acquired Malaria Cases Identified in Florida, Texas, and Maryland
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update to share new information with clinicians, public health authorities, and the public about locally acquired malaria cases identified in the United States. On August 18, 2023, a single case…… Continue reading Important Updates on Locally Acquired Malaria Cases Identified in Florida, Texas, and Maryland
OIG Publishes New Featured Topic Webpage on Managed Care
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The growth of managed care over the past several years has changed fundamental aspects of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This significant shift transformed how the Government pays for and covers health care for approximately 100 million enrollees. Due to the growth of managed care (in…… Continue reading OIG Publishes New Featured Topic Webpage on Managed Care
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