Care Compare October Release of SNF QRP Data Now Available

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The October 2022 release of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) data is now available on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC). The data are based on quality assessment data submitted by SNFs to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from…… Continue reading Care Compare October Release of SNF QRP Data Now Available

Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) September Forum Materials Available

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted the September 2022 HQRP Forum to provide information on the Fiscal Year 2023 Hospice Final Rule, recent public reporting activity, and additional HQRP updates. Materials from this HQRP Forum, including a recording…… Continue reading Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) September Forum Materials Available

Administration Strengthens Oversight of Nation’s Poorest-Performing Nursing Homes

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS issued this Press Release on Friday, October 21, 2022. It references the QSO-23-01-NH Memorandumblog I posted earlier that day.  The QSO Memorandum and the corresponding Press Release are both worth the read and sharing with your team/colleagues. Below is an excerpt from that Press Release.…… Continue reading Administration Strengthens Oversight of Nation’s Poorest-Performing Nursing Homes

CMS Posts Significant Updates to LTC Survey Process

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The afternoon of October 24, 2022, CMS posted these updates to the LTC Survey Process: The Revision History for LTC Survey Process Documents and Files provides some additional information: There are indeed a lot of significant updates!  One example is that 20 (half) of the Critical…… Continue reading CMS Posts Significant Updates to LTC Survey Process

HQRP Quarterly Update for 3rd Quarter of 2022 Available 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Hospice Quarterly Update for the third quarter of 2022 is now available. This update includes Hospice Quality Reporting Program highlights from July to September 2022, events and engagement opportunities for the fourth quarter of 2022 (October-December 2022), and selected questions and answers from the Hospice…… Continue reading HQRP Quarterly Update for 3rd Quarter of 2022 Available 

CMS-CDC-NHSN Nursing Home COVID-19 Data for Week Ending October 9, 2022   

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the nursing home data for the week ending October 9, 2022. Comparing the October 2nd data to the September 25th data shows these changes: Resident primary vaccination completion rate again decreased by 0.1% from previous week Residents up to date with vaccines decreased 9.1% from previous…… Continue reading CMS-CDC-NHSN Nursing Home COVID-19 Data for Week Ending October 9, 2022   

Revisions to Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Today, October 21, 2022, CMS posted QSO-23-01-NH with the same title as this blog. Background: Sections 1819(f)(8) and 1919(f)(10) of the Social Security Act require CMS to conduct a Special Focus Facility (SFF) program which focuses on nursing homes that have a persistent record of noncompliance…… Continue reading Revisions to Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program

CMS Posts Revisions to State Operation Manual (SOM) and Appendix PP Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Today, October 21, 2022, CMS posted R208SOMA: What follows, starting on page 2 of the 560-page transmittal, is the identification of the F-Tags within Appendix PP. Appendix PP begins on page 26 through page 538. Additional Exhibits (Chapter 9 – SOM) complete the rest of the…… Continue reading CMS Posts Revisions to State Operation Manual (SOM) and Appendix PP Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities

Home Health Agencies Used Multiple Strategies to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic Although Some Challenges Persist

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The OIG posted its study of Home Health Agencies and their response to the COVID-19 pandemic on October 18, 2022. Key Takeaway: Home health agencies (HHAs) developed strategies to respond to challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including providing new incentives to maintain staff and seeking alternative…… Continue reading Home Health Agencies Used Multiple Strategies to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic Although Some Challenges Persist

CDC Allows Novavax Monovalent COVID-19 Boosters for Adults Ages 18 and Older

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Today (October 19, 2022), CDC’s Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., signed a decision memo allowing Novavax monovalent COVID-19 boosters for adults. This action gives people ages 18 years and older the option to receive a Novavax monovalent booster instead of an updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna…… Continue reading CDC Allows Novavax Monovalent COVID-19 Boosters for Adults Ages 18 and Older