December 2020 Quarterly Refresh of LTCH QRP

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The December 2020 quarterly refresh of LTCH QRP is now available on LTCH Compare as well as the Long-term care hospitals web pages within Care Compare (CCXP) and Provider Data Catalog (PDC). The data for assessment-based measures are based on quality assessment data submitted by LTCHs…… Continue reading December 2020 Quarterly Refresh of LTCH QRP

AHCA/NCAL Updates COVID-19 Pharmacy Partnership for LTC Program Overview/FAQ

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare AHCA/NCAL updated their Overview and FAQ document (9-pages) on December 8, 2020. This is an excellent resource document.  Please download and review with your team as we move closer to EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) which could come as early as today – December 10, 2020. I…… Continue reading AHCA/NCAL Updates COVID-19 Pharmacy Partnership for LTC Program Overview/FAQ

Facility-Initiated Discharge in Nursing Homes – Upcoming OIG Investigation Topic

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare In November 2020, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced an upcoming topic of investigation for the office.  (Bolding in next paragraph added by me.) The transfer or discharge of a resident initiated by a nursing home can be an unsafe and traumatic experience for the…… Continue reading Facility-Initiated Discharge in Nursing Homes – Upcoming OIG Investigation Topic

Iowa LTC Providers: Minimum Data Set (MDS) / Medicaid Case Mix

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Iowa DHS and IME issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2196-MC-FFS on December 8, 2020. In response to the Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released COVID 1135 Blanket Waiver on March 1, 2020, that included waiving 42 CFR 483.20 timeframe…… Continue reading Iowa LTC Providers: Minimum Data Set (MDS) / Medicaid Case Mix

CMS Posts Current County Positivity Rates – December 7, 2020

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the most recent county positivity data – December 7, 2020. Remember that past data is found in the Archives. Another reminder is that nursing homes are required to conduct testing of residents and staff.  More information about these requirements and guidelines can be…… Continue reading CMS Posts Current County Positivity Rates – December 7, 2020

Recent COVID-19 Updates and Information

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has published an Infection Control Basics and Personal Protective Equipment for Essential Caregivers guide for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, intermediate care facilities, hospices and home and community-based services group homes.  This is an 18-page guide with a date…… Continue reading Recent COVID-19 Updates and Information

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Program Information for NHs

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare I listened to an extremely informative webinar hosted by CVSHealth/Omnicare on Monday, December 7, 2020.  This webinar spoke very specifically to the steps leading up to and through Phase 1 of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program.  This is the link to the 23 webinar slides for the…… Continue reading COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Program Information for NHs

New Half Billion Incentive Payment Distribution to Nursing Homes Coming

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On Monday, December 7, 2020, HHS Secretary Alex Azar announced the distribution of $523 million in second round performance payments to over 9,000 nursing homes. These nursing homes are being rewarded for successfully reducing COVID-19 related infections and deaths between September and October.  Nursing homes will…… Continue reading New Half Billion Incentive Payment Distribution to Nursing Homes Coming

Updates to the Nursing Home Compare Website and Five Star Quality Rating System

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare December 4, 2020, CMS posted QSO 21-06-NH … Updates to the Nursing Home Compare Website and Five Star Quality Rating System.  This 3-page QSO memorandum provides updates on the Health Inspection and Quality Measure domains of the Five Star Quality Rating System, and the transition to…… Continue reading Updates to the Nursing Home Compare Website and Five Star Quality Rating System