Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. As National Kidney Month arrives in March, so does an important reminder: our kidneys work quietly every day, filtering waste, balancing fluids, and supporting overall health. Now is the perfect time for facility coders in long-term care (LTC) …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. February’s designation as American Heart Month offers an important opportunity to reflect on the role of cardiovascular health in long-term care (LTC). Cardiac conditions such as heart disease, hypertension (HTN), and heart failure are among the most frequently …
When a resident’s Medicare Part A skilled stay ends, two types of resident notification processes may be required under the Beneficiary Notices Initiative: the standard denial process and the expedited appeal process. In the standard appeal process, the Skilled Nursing Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage (SNF ABN) is an …
The Non-Therapy Ancillary (NTA) component of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) accounts for the medical complexity and resource-intensive services provided to residents in nursing facilities. This component is calculated using a combination of clinical diagnoses, active conditions, and specialized treatments or services documented in the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and, …
The nursing component of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) may appear straightforward: calculate a section GG Nursing Function Score and assign the resident to one of six nursing categories. But accuracy relies on a detailed understanding of coding rules, observation periods, and documentation requirements that determine both compliance and reimbursement …
The calculation for the nursing component of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) can look deceptively simple. The two steps entail calculating a section GG nursing function score and then placing the resident into one of six nursing categories. But completing these two steps correctly requires understanding a number of coding …
Since the implementation of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), nursing facilities have had to take a more nuanced approach to how a resident’s needs are assessed and documented. As discussed in part 1 of this series, Medicare payment, as well as Medicaid payment in many states, is determined using PDPM …
In skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), staff members often find the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) process complex and unfamiliar, especially when determining how Medicare (and, in many states, Medicaid) payment is calculated. PDPM is based on five separate case-mix adjusted components: Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech Language Pathology (SLP), …
Navigating Medicare Part A coverage in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) is a matter of regulatory compliance. But it’s also a daily ethical test for facility staff and administrators. In many ways it depends on the honor system, and those responsible for billing and care case management must understand and apply …
The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code assignment continues to be a bit of an enigma in the long-term care setting. Members regularly ask questions about ICD-10-CM coding in AAPACN’s online communities, as well as in post-education surveys, often confused about how to order the codes. …
