CMS QSO Memo Reminds Hospitals of Discharge Requirements for Hospital Discharges to Post-Acute Care Providers

Memo # QSO-23-16-Hospitals Posting Date 2023-06-06 Fiscal Year 2023 CMS is committed to ensuring that the health and safety of patients are protected when discharges from hospitals and transfers to post-acute care providers occur. Therefore, we are providing the following information: • Reminding state agencies (SAs), accrediting organizations (AOs), and …

LTCSP Survey Resources: Surveyor Tools Updated

This ZIP file contains resources for surveyors conducting initial surveys under the Long-term Care Survey Process (LTCSP). It is a one-stop shop containing a multitude of reference materials that are provided to the surveyors going into facilities, including, for example, a document detailing their principles of documentation, a document showing …

MDS Data Specifications V3.01.1 (FINAL) and OSA Data Specifications V3.01.0 (FINAL) Posted

The MDS Data Specifications V3.01.1 (FINAL) and the OSA Data Specifications V3.01.0 (FINAL) are now available for download.  These specifications will go into effect on October 1, 2023. There are both item and edit updates in the FINAL version, so please review the Item Change and Edit Change Reports.  The version …

Final MDS 3.0 Item Sets v. 1.18.11 effective Oct. 1, 2023–Updated

The final Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.18.11 have been updated and are now available. The NP, NPE, and SD Item Sets have been replaced with revised versions; the remaining item sets remain unchanged from the last posted version. The MDS Item Sets v1.18.11 will be effective …

TIP: CMS Releases Final Rule Lifting Vaccine Requirements for Healthcare Personnel

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule on May 31, 2023, withdrawing the federal requirement of COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare personnel (HCP). Although the requirement is being lifted, CMS continues to encourage staff vaccination through other programs such as the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting …

Did COVID-19 Slow Down Restorative Nursing? Learn How to Jumpstart the Program

Restorative nursing took a big hit in many nursing homes during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), says Carol Hill, MSN, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, CPC, president of Hill Educational Services in Warrior, AL. “Dedicated restorative nursing assistants (RNAs) and restorative nurses were often the first staff members to …

Implement a Survey Preparedness Program: How to Be Survey-Ready All Year Long

On May 11, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ended certain emergency waivers; put in place during the public health emergency, these waived some F-tag elements that would otherwise have applied during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the ending of these waivers, surveyors will resume …

Q&A: Is there a requirement regarding how abuse training is completed?

Question: Is there a requirement regarding how abuse training is completed? Answer from Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT:CMS requires education on certain topics for new and existing staff, specifically, training on abuse, neglect, exploitation and misappropriation. However, they recognize the changing needs of the facility and allow flexibility …

How to Navigate and Prioritize Current Regulatory Changes for Nurse Leaders

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Alexis Roam, MSN, RN-BC, CPHQ, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, AAPACN curriculum development specialist, discuss how to handle several different regulatory changes nurse leaders are navigating through right now. Additional Resources:

CMS iQIES MDS FAQs

Table of Contents 1. Launch/Help Questions 1.1 Will iQIES have the same spec version at launch as QIES (version 3.00.1 including Errata Version3.00.8)? _____________________________________________ 1.2 How do I register for iQIES? 1.3 Whom can I reach out to if I have questions related to iQIES? 2. User Role Questions 2.1 …