The year 2024 brings a plethora of updates to the Medicare program, several significantly impacting skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). SNF staff must stay well informed about these updates to ensure proper billing and adequate coverage for a beneficiary’s skilled stay. This comprehensive article delves into key updates, encompassing changes in …
The Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) has been a federal requirement since the inception of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) process that resulted from the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. The specifications of how to complete this assessment are described in chapter 2 of the RAI User’s Manual …
Effective International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) coding relies on meticulous clinical documentation. It’s not just about assigning codes; it’s about ensuring consistent and comprehensive documentation that substantiates every facet and the specificity of a diagnosis. This documentation should originate from a provider, that is, a physician …
The Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) has been the case-mix classification model used for Medicare Part A skilled nursing facility (SNF) reimbursement since October 2019. Although this payment system has been in place for nearly four years for Medicare payment, some states have recently transitioned to PDPM for Medicaid payment. That …
Ah, the great mysteries of life. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Is there intelligent life on other planets? Where do all the missing socks go? And of course, the enduring mystery: what is the interrupted stay policy? Interrupted stays may not happen often, and every skilled nursing …
