October is Health Literacy Month

Health Literacy Month has been celebrated in October for over 20 years.  It highlights the importance of providing health information in ways that people can understand and use.  Unfortunately, nearly nine out of 10 adults* struggle to understand and use personal and public health information when it’s filled with unfamiliar or complex terms. Because health…… Continue reading October is Health Literacy Month

Immunization Overview for Fall and Winter 2023-2024

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention September 29, 2023, 6:00 PM EDT “For the first time ever, immunizations are available this fall and winter in the United States that can help protect against three major respiratory diseases: COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Immunization against these viruses remains the best protection for reducing the risk of serious illness,…… Continue reading Immunization Overview for Fall and Winter 2023-2024

iQIES to Replace jRAVEN on October 1, 2023

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On October 1, 2023, the CMS Resident Assessment Validation and Entry System (jRAVEN) will no longer be supported by CMS. CMS will replace the jRAVEN application with an online user tool for all valid target dates. iQIES is an Internet facing, cloud-based system and requires users…… Continue reading iQIES to Replace jRAVEN on October 1, 2023

Limitations of Using CMS Data to Identify Private Equity and Other Ownership

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare About 14,700 nursing homes enrolled in Medicare provided care to about 1.2 million elderly or disabled residents in 2021, for a total cost of about $28.5 billion. CMS is the agency responsible for ensuring nursing homes enrolled in the Medicare program meet certain quality standards. Nursing…… Continue reading Limitations of Using CMS Data to Identify Private Equity and Other Ownership

Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP) Revisions

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Monday, September 25, 2023, CMS posted QSO-23-23-NHs with the same title as this blog. This is a 16-page Memorandum. Nursing homes are inspected by state surveyors for compliance with federal requirements for participation with Medicare and/or Medicaid (42 CFR 483 Subpart B). When noncompliance is identified,…… Continue reading Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP) Revisions

CMS Posts Updated Item Set Videos

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Updated videos are available on these topics: BIMS and BIMS Summary Score: Stopping and Coding an Incomplete Interview Explainer Video(3m23s)             This video was developed to assist providers in accurately determining when the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) should be stopped, and how to code…… Continue reading CMS Posts Updated Item Set Videos

America’s Best Nursing Homes 2023

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare “Finding a nursing home for a loved one can be a difficult experience. The practical and financial issues are complex and the emotional aspects can sometimes be overwhelming. The continuing threat of COVID-19 isn’t making any of that easier. To try to make the process more…… Continue reading America’s Best Nursing Homes 2023

Review of Personnel Shortages in Federal Health Care Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare While personnel shortages existed in the health care community before the pandemic, the pandemic exacerbated these shortages. Maintaining an appropriate level of personnel in health care facilities is essential to providing a safe work environment for health care personnel and quality care to patients. The Pandemic…… Continue reading Review of Personnel Shortages in Federal Health Care Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE: Cue Cards for Administering the BIMS in Writing, PHQ-2 to 9, Pain Assessment Interview and Interview for Daily and Activity Preferences

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS is offering a set of cue cards to assist providers in conducting the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) in Writing, the Resident Mood Interview (PHQ-2 to 9), the Pain Assessment Interview, and the Interview for Daily and Activity Preferences, as referenced in the MDS…… Continue reading NEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE: Cue Cards for Administering the BIMS in Writing, PHQ-2 to 9, Pain Assessment Interview and Interview for Daily and Activity Preferences