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How to Prepare for AAPACN Certification  

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialists with AAPACN, discuss best practices to prepare for an AAPACN certification. Additional Resources:

Mastering the Discharge Function Score for Skilled Nursing Facilities

By Greg Seiple Discharge planning is an essential component of patient care in skilled nursing facilities. But how do healthcare professionals determine when a resident is ready to leave and manage daily activities independently? Enter the Discharge Function Score—a critical tool in evaluating a resident’s ability to function outside of …

Q&A: A resident was recently admitted with multiple fractures related to an ATV accident. Is it appropriate to use Z47.89, Encounter for other orthopedic aftercare, as the principal diagnosis code?

Question: A resident was recently admitted with multiple fractures related to an ATV accident. Is it appropriate to use Z47.89, Encounter for other orthopedic aftercare, as the principal diagnosis code?    Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: You cannot use aftercare Z codes when related to injuries …

Q&A: I am confused with what can be included at O0110A1, chemotherapy while a resident. A resident is currently receiving Ibrance, as part of her cancer treatment. Can I code oral chemotherapy? 

Question: I am confused with what can be included at O0110A1, chemotherapy while a resident. A resident is currently receiving Ibrance, as part of her cancer treatment. Can I code oral chemotherapy?  Answer from Scott Heichel RN, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, QCP, ICC, IPCO: Ibrance is a kinase inhibitor used to treat breast …

Q&A: A resident recently admitted to us with over 20 pressure ulcers and 10 of these are deep tissue pressure injuries. M0300 only allows us to enter a single digit amount 0-9 on the MDS. How do we code when it is 10 or more?

Question: A resident recently admitted to us with over 20 pressure ulcers and 10 of these are deep tissue pressure injuries. M0300 only allows us to enter a single digit amount 0-9 on the MDS. How do we code when it is 10 or more? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, …

TIP: Updated NOMNC and DENC Must Be Used Starting Jan. 1, 2025  

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has updated the Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage (NOMNC), (Form CMS-10123), and the Detailed Explanation of Non-Coverage (DENC), (Form CMS-10124). Providers must use the current notices until Dec. 31, 2024, and are required to use the new NOMNC and DENC beginning Jan. 1, 2025.  …

January Thaw: Get Ready for the QM Unfreeze

Although spring may seem like a mirage right now, it’s time for nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) to prepare for a literal thaw in the Five-Star Quality Rating System. As of January 2025, the Care Compare refresh will unfreeze four Quality Measures (QMs), frozen since April 2024 following the change from …

GG0130 and GG0170: Using Clinical Judgment to Establish Usual Performance

The ability to exercise clinical judgment to define usual performance in MDS items GG0130 (Self-Care) and GG0170 (Mobility) offers nursing homes unprecedented opportunity to impact quality measures (QMs), says Rosanna Benbow, RN, CCM, ICC, IP, DNS-CT, QCP, RAC-CTA, regional director of operations at Proactive LTC Consulting in Evansville, IN. “You …

Five-Star and Care Compare MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Data Periods

Care Compare refreshes MDS 3.0 Quality Measure (QM) data quarterly in January, April, July, and October with the most recent four full quarters of data. AAPACN’s Five-Star and Care Compare MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Data Periods tools identify exactly which quarters will be publicly reported and used in Five-Star with …

CMS Revises Appendix Q (Guidance on Immediate Jeopardy) in State Operations Manual for Long-Term Care Survey Process

Memo #QSO-25-09-ALL Fiscal Year 2025 REVISION TO QSO-19-09-ALL REVISED ORIGINALLY RELEASED ON MARCH 5, 2019 • Core Appendix Q and Subparts – Appendix Q to the State Operations Manual (SOM), which provides guidance for identifying immediate jeopardy, has been revised. The revision creates a Core Appendix Q that will be …