From MLN Connects eNews: CMS will relaunch the Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) in the coming months for all Medicare facility types, including hospitals, post-acute care providers, and specialty facilities. PEPPER is a free tool that helps you review your Medicare billing data so you can identify …
Transmittal # R242SOMA Issue Date 2026-05-29 Subject Revisions to the State Operations Manual (SOM) Chapter 9 Exhibits. I. SUMMARY OF CHANGES: CMS is revising Chapter 9 of the SOM to remove many model letters or links to exhibits no longer used for program operation. For Forms used for program operation, the download area …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the “Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines” guidance several times since requiring COVID-19 vaccinations to be coded on the MDS as of October 2024. Facility teams can track these changes by using AAPACN’s COVID-19 Vaccine “Up to Date” Guidance …
Starting Oct. 1, 2024, additional supporting documentation is required to capture a diagnosis of sepsis at I2100, Septicemia on the MDS. Nurse assessment coordinators can use the AAPACN Sepsis: Nurse Documentation Training Aid to provide guidance to nurses on assessment and documentation needs when a resident is diagnosed with sepsis. …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Artificial intelligence (AI) is swiftly transforming the healthcare industry, and home health care and hospice agencies are just starting to see how this technology can improve operations. “The benefits are huge,” says Holly Chaffee, MSN, BSN, RN, principal …
AAPACN’s Laboratory Test Tool for Home Health provides useful knowledge to nurses regarding the most widely ordered laboratory tests. Areas of knowledge include components of each test, reasons the physician may order the laboratory test, if the patient needs to be fasting for the test, and items that should be …
DENVER, CO, May 22, 2026 — The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN®) proudly announces that Board member Danielle Pierotti, PhD, RN, has been appointed to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) for a three-year term. Dr. Pierotti was nominated for this prestigious position by AAPACN and recommended by …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) previously announced in March that the updated Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN), Form CMS-R-131, was now available, but extended implementation to no later than May 12, 2026. While providers could continue using the previous version through May 11, 2026, facilities should …
The AAPACN ICD-10-CM Coding Decision Tool: Obesity and BMI Reporting helps long-term care staff accurately determine when BMI and obesity-related ICD-10-CM codes can be reported while ensuring compliance with provider documentation requirements. This tool guides users through coding decisions, clarifies the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) non-therapy ancillary (NTA) point impacts, …
In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, sr. curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, share clarifications from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the Long-Stay Antipsychotic measure. Additional Resources:
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