Providers Refusing to Treat Medicare Beneficiaries with Open MSP Records

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare It has come to CMS’ attention again that there are some providers, physicians and other suppliers who are denying services to beneficiaries due to an open MSP record on the beneficiary Medicare record. Providers and suppliers shall not deny medical services or entry to a SNF or hospital after you discover that there is…… Continue reading Providers Refusing to Treat Medicare Beneficiaries with Open MSP Records

COVID Deaths 5-fold Lower After Bivalent vs. Monovalent Booster

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Recipients of the bivalent (two-strain) COVID-19 vaccine booster were 14 times less likely to die of Omicron BA.4/BA.5 infections than their unvaccinated peers and 5 times less likely to die than recipients of the monovalent (single-strain) booster, particularly among older people, finds a study today in Morbidity and Mortality…… Continue reading COVID Deaths 5-fold Lower After Bivalent vs. Monovalent Booster

CMS Updates Chapter 5 and 7 of the SOM Also Posts an Administrative Information Memorandum for States and Surveyors

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Last Friday, February 10, 2023, CMS posted these Transmittals: R212SOMA … Revisions to State Operations Manual (SOM) Chapter 5 and R213SOMA … Revisions to State Operations Manual (SOM), Chapter 7 The 24 pages in the Chapter 5 Transmittal and the 84 pages in the Chapter 7…… Continue reading CMS Updates Chapter 5 and 7 of the SOM Also Posts an Administrative Information Memorandum for States and Surveyors

Administration Continues Unprecedented Efforts to Increase Transparency of NH Ownership

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Proposed rule would require disclosure of additional ownership and management information to shine a light on private equity ownership.  Administration seeking to implement Section 6101(a) of the Affordable Care Act. Today (February 13, 2023), in a continued effort to deliver on the President’s commitment, HHS announced…… Continue reading Administration Continues Unprecedented Efforts to Increase Transparency of NH Ownership

MDS 3.0 v1.18.11 Provider Burden Data From CMS: CMS-10387 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This package: CMS-10387, dated February 7, 2023, is a request for a revision to the current Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment instrument for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). This package represents a request from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement the MDS…… Continue reading MDS 3.0 v1.18.11 Provider Burden Data From CMS: CMS-10387 

Enhancing Quality Improvement Adoption in US Nursing Homes 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and illuminated quality failings in nursing homes, persistent equity issues, and the system- and policy-level factors that contribute to their endurance. To begin seeking ways to address these issues, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) conducted a 90-day innovation project to identify…… Continue reading Enhancing Quality Improvement Adoption in US Nursing Homes 

January 2023 Additions to the OIG Work Plan 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Two additions to the OIG Work Plan for LTC caught my eye: Assessment of CMS’s Early Use of Payroll-Based Journal Data To Improve Enforcement of Nursing Home Staffing Standards: In October 2022, CMS began to provide State Survey Agency surveyors (State surveyors) with extracts of Payroll-Based…… Continue reading January 2023 Additions to the OIG Work Plan 

MN LTC Providers: Register NOW for MDS Education for Nursing Home Staff – Space Limited!  

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare This information is intended for Long Term Care Facility Administrators, Directors of Nursing, MDS Coordinators, Registered Nurses, and Social Services staff who work directly with the Minimum Data Set (MDS).  The Licensing and Certification Program at the Minnesota Department of Health is offering three free MDS…… Continue reading MN LTC Providers: Register NOW for MDS Education for Nursing Home Staff – Space Limited!  

Join HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs to Discuss the End of the PHE

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare We (CMS) want(s) to thank you for your ongoing partnership throughout the COVID-19 response over the course of the last three years. Yesterday, HHS informed Governors that, Secretary Becerra renewed the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) for 90 days. Based on current trends regarding COVID-19, HHS is planning for…… Continue reading Join HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs to Discuss the End of the PHE