Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Home Health Agency Provider Preview Reports and the Quality of Patient Care Star Rating Preview Reports that were posted previously on June 25, 2020 contained an error. The previous reports contained the HHA observed values instead of the risk adjusted values. The reports have been corrected…… Continue reading Corrected HHA Provider Preview Reports and Star Rating Preview Reports Reposted
NEW TIME for CMS Stakeholder Call on Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Please join CMS Administrator Seema Verma for a National Stakeholder call today Tuesday, August 4th at 6:30 PM Eastern. Phone lines are limited, so we encourage you to join via webcast, if possible. Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820 Conference ID: 2853889 Webcast link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=6530a94e-39648065-65309871-0cc47a6d17cc-b9220ebf09cd50ea&u=https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=07435b48-5b174234-07436a77-0cc47adc5fa2-424bd2b6abf4b1eb&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2436 For yesterday’s…… Continue reading NEW TIME for CMS Stakeholder Call on Tuesday, August 4, 2020
COVID-19 Surveillance to Enable Early Detection and Response to Outbreaks: NHSN Mandatory Data Collection (Webinar)
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Topic: COVID-19 Surveillance to Enable Early Detection and Response to Outbreaks: National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Mandatory Data Collection Date: Thursday, August 6, 2020 Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET Advance Registration Required: Register here. Note: Once you register, you will receive an email with…… Continue reading COVID-19 Surveillance to Enable Early Detection and Response to Outbreaks: NHSN Mandatory Data Collection (Webinar)
Upcoming CMS SNF/LTC Open Door Forum – Thursday, August 6, 2020
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum scheduled for: Date: Thursday, August 6, 2020 Start Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) To participate by phone: Dial: 1-888-455-1397 & Conference Passcode: 9375124 (Conference Call Only) Please dial-in…… Continue reading Upcoming CMS SNF/LTC Open Door Forum – Thursday, August 6, 2020
FY 2021 PDPM ICD-10 Mappings Posted
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the ICD-10 PDPM Mappings for FY2021 on this webpage. Scroll down the page to find: https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/fy-2021-pdpm-icd-10-mappings.zip-0 is the direct link to this .zip file. You’ll find these spreadsheets when you access that .zip file.
Administration Proposes to Expand Telehealth Benefits Permanently for Medicare Beneficiaries Beyond the COVID-19 PHE and Advances Access to Care in Rural Areas
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This Press Release announced CMS changes as well as an Executive Order signed on Monday, August 3, 2020. “The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing changes to expand telehealth permanently, consistent with the Executive Order on Improving Rural and Telehealth Access that President…… Continue reading Administration Proposes to Expand Telehealth Benefits Permanently for Medicare Beneficiaries Beyond the COVID-19 PHE and Advances Access to Care in Rural Areas
COVID-19 in Nursing Homes: Calming the Perfect Storm
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare I just learned of a new article that will soon be published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society – COVID-19 in Nursing Homes: Calming the Perfect Storm. This 31-page article is a definite must-read! This special article was prepared for JAGS with final submission on…… Continue reading COVID-19 in Nursing Homes: Calming the Perfect Storm
COVID-19 Guidance Updates for Last Week of July 2020
Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The CDC has updated these resources during the past week: Interim Guidance for Use of Pooling Procedures in SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic, Screening, and Surveillance TestingResources for Laboratories Working on Coronavirus (COVID-19)Toolkit for Retirement CommunitiesConsiderations for Retirement Communities and Independent Living FacilitiesInterim Guidelines for COVID-19 Antibody TestingInvestigating and…… Continue reading COVID-19 Guidance Updates for Last Week of July 2020
Five-Star Quality Rating System: Technical Users’ Guide Updated July 29, 2020
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
