Question: I miscalculated the ARD window for a 5-Day and scheduled the 5-Day/PPS Discharge on day 9 of the Medicare stay. What do I need to do? Answer from Jeff Taylor:Leave everything as it is and bill one day default for the late assessment. Since the 5-Day is one day …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) convened a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) on May 12 and 14, 2025, to obtain input on potential cross-setting updates to the Falls with Major Injury (FMI) measure. The TEP was held in response to concerns regarding potential underreporting on the current measure …
From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/nursing-home-improvement/value-based-purchasing From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/nursing-home-improvement/value-based-purchasing/confidential-feedback-reporting-review-and-corrections From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/nursing-home-improvement/value-based-purchasing/scoring-methodology-payment-adjustment
CDC announces new ICD-10-CM codes effective October 1, 2025. The October 1, 2025 diagnosis code update files are now available. Use these files for discharges occurring from October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026, and for patient encounters occurring from October 1, 2025 -September 30, 2026. The files in the 2026 …
Question: When should I set an assessment reference date (ARD) for a Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) after a resident elected hospice? Answer from Scott Heichel RN, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, QCP, ICC, IPCO: The completion date for the SCSA is the “determination date +14 days.” The ARD can be …
Question: I know that McGeer criteria must be met when coding a UTI that develops in-house during the SNF stay, but what is required when a resident is transferred to the hospital and returns to the SNF with a documented UTI diagnosis (e.g., listed on the discharge summary and on …
Question: The Five-Star Preview Report for July 2025 still shows the standard survey from three years ago. I thought the third survey would no longer be used? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: CMS has stated that the third survey would be shown on the Care Compare …
In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, 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, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss key findings from the 2025 AAPACN NAC Work Study and Salary Report. Additional Resources: Nurse Assessment Coordinator …
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) noted in the FY 2026 SNF PPS Final Rule, “After consideration of the public comments, we are finalizing our proposal to remove four standardized patient assessment data elements (one item for Living Situation (R0310); two items for Food (R0320A and R0320B); and …
Written by Kristine Martinez, BSN, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP, DNS-CT, MDS Consultants Often, section K on the minimum data set (MDS), along with the associated care area assessments (CAAs) and care planning are delegated to the dietitian to manage. However, when reviewing a comprehensive MDS, it becomes clear that section …
