Question: How do we code interviews that were not complete when a Medicare resident has an unplanned discharge to the hospital? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: If the interviews were not completed, you would need to answer the gateway question that ‘Yes’ the resident interview should …
Effective with the July 2025 refresh, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing a change to the methodology for calculating the Health Inspection domain, shifting from using the three most recent standard health inspection surveys to the two most recent standard health inspection surveys to calculate Health …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) recently released the NHSN COVID-19 Dashboard for long-term care facilities. This user-friendly tool offers customizable, interactive charts and a clear summary of COVID-19 data specific to each facility. Facilities can use the accompanying guide to navigate the …
In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss ways directors of nursing services can build confidence in their staff. Whether on-boarding new hires, supporting burned-out nurses, …
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It’s important that long-term care residents receive enteral nutrition in a safe, effective, and consistent manner. Utilize AAPACN’s Enteral Nutrition Checklist to ensure documentation is complete and residents are receiving appropriate nutrition, medications, and treatment for their enteral tube feeding. This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual members may …
Question: If a resident initiates his/her discharge for the following day and the facility was able to organize home care, equipment, etc., is this considered a planned or unplanned discharge? Answer from Jessie McGill RN, BSN, RAC-MTA, RAC-CTA: There is a distinct difference between being able to prepare for a …
Question: A resident previously exhausted his 100 days of Medicare for a new feeding tube. He was discharged to an assisted living facility (ALF) for more than 60 days where an licensed practical nurse (LPN) assisted with the 100% tube feedings. Did this resident achieve a 60-day break in skilled …
Question: The RAI User’s Manual guidance for mechanically altered diet mentions “soft solids.” Would that include solids that are naturally soft or solids that we would “soften”? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: The diet needs to be mechanically altered to facilitate eating/swallowing in order to code …
At Eventide Senior Living, people come first. From residents to staff, the organization understands that delivering high-quality care starts with a confident, well-supported team. That’s why Eventide has taken a thoughtful and proactive approach to training and development. One that empowers nurses, strengthens operations, and opens doors to career advancement. …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released the updated codes for fiscal year (FY) 2026. These updates include the addition of the following locations to the category L98.4, non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classifiable: Additionally, a new category L98.A, will be added to include non-pressure …
