Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted the updated Five-Star Quality Rating System Technical Users Guide (29-pages) this past week. The updated State-Level Health Inspection Cut Point Table (4-pages) was also posted. July 2020 Revisions: Temporary Changes due to COVID-19 Staffing Rating Changes: Under the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for…… Continue reading Five-Star Quality Rating System: Technical Users’ Guide Updated July 29, 2020
Breaking News: Fiscal Year 2021 Payment and Policy Changes for Medicare SNFs Final Rule Issued
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare “On July 31, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule [CMS-1737-F] for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 that updates the Medicare payment rates and the value-based purchasing program for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). CMS is publishing this final rule consistent with…… Continue reading Breaking News: Fiscal Year 2021 Payment and Policy Changes for Medicare SNFs Final Rule Issued
Nursing Home Compare Quarterly Refresh with SNF Quality Reporting Program Data
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The July 2020 Nursing Home Compare refresh (last update was July 29, 2020), including quality measure results based on SNF QRP data submitted to CMS, is now available. For this refresh SNF QRP assessment-based measures performance scores will be based upon data submitted to CMS between Q4…… Continue reading Nursing Home Compare Quarterly Refresh with SNF Quality Reporting Program Data
COVID-19 Testing – Talking Points for Providers
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Along with the news that provider reimbursement is now available for counseling patients to self-isolate at time of COVID-19 testing, CMS has provided a Talking Points for Providers document. This 2-page document explains the difference between quarantine and self-isolation. It also provides clear guidance for patients…… Continue reading COVID-19 Testing – Talking Points for Providers
COVID-19 Response for Nursing Facilities (Version 3.3) – Texas Health and Human Services
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare I’m providing this guidance as another resource to help LTCFs hone their response to COVID-19. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has published this document to give nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities guidance in the event a positive COVID-19 case is associated with the…… Continue reading COVID-19 Response for Nursing Facilities (Version 3.3) – Texas Health and Human Services
FDA Reiterates Warning About Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The subtitle sums up this warning: Agency Urges Consumers, Health Care Professionals Not to Use Certain Products, Citing Serious Adverse Events and Death. In FDA News issued July 27, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration “continues to warn consumers and health care professionals not to use…… Continue reading FDA Reiterates Warning About Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol
Upcoming Supply Management & Inventory Control Webinars
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare If you subscribe to our blog website, perhaps you’ve seen this recent blog on a webinar that addressed caring for COVID-19 residents in LTC facilities. In that blog, I speak to NETEC and its mission. This group provides great resources “to increase the capability of United…… Continue reading Upcoming Supply Management & Inventory Control Webinars
News Alert: Provider Reimbursement Available for Counseling Patients to Self-Isolate at Time of COVID-19 Testing
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The following News Alert was issued mid-day on Thursday, June 30, 2020: CMS and CDC announce provider reimbursement available for counseling patients to self-isolate at time of COVID-19 testing Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…… Continue reading News Alert: Provider Reimbursement Available for Counseling Patients to Self-Isolate at Time of COVID-19 Testing
Hospice PEPPER Now Available
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Q4FY19 release of the Hospice Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) with statistics through September 2019 is now available for download through the PEPPER Resources Portal. To obtain your Hospice PEPPER, the Chief Executive Officer, President, Administrator, Compliance Officer, or Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement Officer of…… Continue reading Hospice PEPPER Now Available
COVID-19 Advocates Guide to Beneficiary-Related Medicare Changes
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare In case you’re looking for a comprehensive guide that explains Medicare changes during the COVID-19 pandemic from a beneficiary perspective, look no further than COVID-19: An Advocates Guide to Beneficiary-Related Medicare Changes. You’ll also find that it is a great, quick guide for healthcare providers as…… Continue reading COVID-19 Advocates Guide to Beneficiary-Related Medicare Changes
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