iQIES Resources Site Updated

iQIES is the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System, which is the system that the MDS submissions system is being transferred to. The QIES Technical Support Office maintains a website with iQIES reference materials, including an onboarding guide and other training materials. Most recent updates: Jan 22, 2024 Nov 22, …

Getting Care Area Assessments Back on Track

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the common challenges nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) face with care area assessments (CAAs) and how they can get back on track.

Keep Quality Measures Hot During the Five-Star Freeze: Extended AAPACN Webinar Q&A  

In this podcast, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss a few outstanding questions that members asked during the recent AAPACN webinar, Keep Quality Measures Hot During the Five-Star Freeze.

Pharmacist Panel Discussion – Perspectives on Section N, Understanding Medication Indication of Use Versus Diagnosis

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, Marti Wdowicki, PharmD, director of clinical operations for PharMerica, and Jeff Herr, PharmD, manager of clinical operations in the West for PharMerica, discuss a pharmacist’s perspective on coding section N of the MDS, what …

Common Barriers and Risks Associated with Care Planning and How the DNS Can Support the Nursing Team

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 common barriers in the care planning process, the risks of delaying care plan updates, and how the director of nursing …

SNF QRP and SNF VBP Claims-Based Measure Manual and Accompanying Files – Available

This document presents technical specifications for the production of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) claims-based measures (CBMs) for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The measures are intended to promote informed decisions among Medicare …

Sections K and O Assessment Periods

Effective Oct. 1, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added columns for MDS items K0520 and O0110 to assess services provided “on admission” and “at discharge.” This change results in different assessment periods for these items depending on the assessment type(s). AAPACN’s Sections K and O Assessment …