Back to PDPM Basics – Part 2: The SLP Component

Since the implementation of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), nursing facilities have had to take a more nuanced approach to how a resident’s needs are assessed and documented. As discussed in part 1 of this series, Medicare payment, as well as Medicaid payment in many states, is determined using PDPM …

TIP: SNF VBP Performance Score Reports Available

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the August 2025 Performance Score Reports for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program are available for download via the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). Access this report to review the performance information …

Q&A: Can I count IV fluids and IV antibiotics that were administered in the hospital before admission and within the 7-day look-back period?

Question: Can I count IV fluids and IV antibiotics that were administered in the hospital before admission and within the 7-day look-back period? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: IV fluid provided during the hospital stay within the 7-day look-back period of the ARD can be coded …

Q&A: 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?

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 …

Q&A: Does the 14-day look-back period for section O include days prior to entry into the facility?

Question: Please clarify if section O “while a resident.” Per the RAI User’s Manual, “Check all treatments, procedures, and programs that the resident received or performed after admission/entry or reentry to the facility and within the last 14 days. If no treatments, procedures or programs were received by, performed on, …

May 2025 Falls With Major Injury Technical Expert Panel (TEP) Summary Report

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 …

FY 2026 SNF VBP Resources

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

FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Code Updates and Coding Guidelines for Oct. 1, 2025 From CMS/CDC

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 …

Is Your Facility Ready for Respiratory Illness Season?

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, 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, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss what to do to prepare for respiratory illness season. 

TIP: CMS Expires or Revises Multiple COVID-19 Waivers

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently expired or revised multiple waivers and QSO memos related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following are included: This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual members may download or print one copy for use within their facility only. AAPACN facility …