NHSN Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Flu Vaccination Module for SNF QRP Reporting

The HCP Flu Vaccination Module, which is part of the HCP component in NHSN, is used to input required NHSN data for the SNF QRP. This site provides access to the HCP Vaccination Module: Influenza Vaccination Summary Protocol, which is the primary manual for the module. In addition, it provides …

Common Missteps in Addressing Plan of Correction Criteria and Best Practices for Compliance Sustainability

According to the Nursing Homes webpage of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) site, “Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and nursing facilities (NFs) are required to be in compliance with the requirements in 42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B, to receive payment under the Medicare or Medicaid programs. To …

Advocate for Long-Term Care Through the DNS-EAP

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the opportunity for AAPACN members to advocate for long-term care through AAPACN’s Director of Nursing Services—Expert Advisory Panel (DNS-EAP). Additional …

Caring for the Resident Receiving Dialysis – Nursing In-service Education

Many residents in nursing homes receive dialysis. It’s imperative that licensed nurses understand how to care for this population. AAPACN’s Caring for the Resident Receiving Dialysis – Nursing In-service Education guides nurses to understand what dialysis is, how to recognize potential side effects, and interventions to implement to prevent complications. This AAPACN …

TIP: Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination Data Webinars

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now requiring all certified skilled nursing facilities to report healthcare personnel influenza data through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The reporting period for this data is Oct. 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024, and must be submitted by May 15, …

FY 2025 SNF VBP Program March 2024 Quarterly Reports Available

The March 2024 Quarterly Confidential Feedback Reports for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program are now available to download via the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). These reports contain interim stay-level data for the SNF 30-Day All-Cause Readmission Measure (SNFRM) for …

CMS Nursing Home Data Sets Updated

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates – State and National Averages State and National averages for facility resident and healthcare personnel COVID-19 vaccination rates. Data are presented as one row per state or territory plus a row for national averages. Note: On January 1, 2024, the CDC changed the data collection methodology for …

MDS Data Specifications V3.02.0 (DRAFT) Available

The MDS Data Specifications V3.02.0 (DRAFT) are now available for download under the Downloads section at the bottom of this webpage.  The Section GG goal items will be removed, and three new items will be added:  O0350 (a COVID-19 related item). and N0415K1 and N0415K2 (anticonvulsant items). Also, items A2121-A2122 will be removed …

NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines: Final Version

In response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the National Institutes of Health assembled a panel of experts to provide practical recommendations for health care providers. For close to 4 years, the COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) has critically reviewed the growing body of research data on COVID-19 and …

Q&A: How do you set section GG discharge goals for a resident who is also receiving care for end of life? 

Question: How do you set section GG discharge goals for a resident who is also receiving care for end of life?  Answer from Jeff Taylor: Goals can include maintenance or even managed decline. This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual members may download or print one copy for use …