AAPACN and CMS Clarify Long-Stay Antipsychotic Measure Requirements

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:

Q&A: Does every CAA trigger require a care plan intervention?

Question: I need clarification regarding the CAA notes: I was understanding that anything that triggers we would address in the care plan. Do we have to address every single CAA note even if it does not trigger? Answer from Jennifer LaBay RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC: Not every item that triggers …

Q&A: How do I support MDS coding of a medication in N0415 when a surveyor disagrees with the classification?

Question: During our annual survey, I was questioned about coding methenamine as an antibiotic on the MDS. I had coded it based on information received from AAPACN and references discussed in this forum. The surveyor appreciated the reference but disagreed, stating that the medication is an anti-infective rather than an …

Q&A: Is a signed diagnosis list enough to support coding in section I?

Question: Is a signed diagnosis list enough to support coding diagnoses in section I, or does the physician need to document the diagnosis as active in their notes? Answer from Jennifer LaBay RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC: Just having a diagnosis list signed by a physician is not quite enough. There …

CMS Maps Out Four Years of Big Changes and Forecasts Even More

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) and Consolidated Billing Proposed Rule for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, officially published on April 7, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposes some earth-shaking …

Falls MDS Coding: Why the DNS Should Get Involved—and How to Do It

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In September 2025, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) rang the alarm bell on MDS coding inaccuracies involving falls with major injury, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) took actions that every director of nursing …

10-Week Nurse Assessment Coordinator Orientation Guide Tool

Orientation for a new nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) is a very complex and long process. It is important to establish a realistic schedule that will allow for effective learning but will not be overwhelming. AAPACN’s new 10-Week NAC Orientation Guide will help pace the orientation process and set the foundation …

TIP: Final Influenza Vaccination Reporting Deadline Approaching

The deadline to submit healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination data in the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system is May 18, 2026. This reporting is required for the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and covers the period October 1, 2025, through March 31, …

SNF QRP: FY 2026 State-Level Compliance Gaps

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP), often regarded as merely an exercise in reporting compliance, also has direct payment implications. Thus for SNFs, compliance reflects both quality and financial issues. The program asks facilities to …

Leave of Absence versus Interrupted Stay: The Effect of EHR Census Decisions

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) frequently manage residents who temporarily leave the building or experience a break in Medicare Part A coverage. On the UB-04, these situations may look the same, often reflected as gaps in covered days or …