CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing transformational reforms to Medicare’s physician payment and value-based care programs that would expand accountable care, modernize physician payment, reduce administrative burden, and help shift the healthcare system’s focus from treating illness to preventing it. The proposals would make Medicare accountable …

Prepare for a Collaboration with Therapy Using SBAR

Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual states that every resident must receive treatment and care to promote the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. This optimal treatment and care requires collaboration. When the nursing department involves therapy in discussions about changes in residents’ conditions, they can improve resident …

How the Occupational Therapist Can Collaborate with the Director of Nursing Services

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Colleen Oakley, OTR/L NHA RAC-CT, senior director of operations for Rehab America and treasurer and member of the AAPACN Board of Directors, discuss ways that the occupational therapist (OT) can collaborate with the …

Skilled Nursing Care & Skilled Therapy Services to Maintain Function or Prevent or Slow Decline: CMS Reminder

Medicare covers skilled nursing care and skilled therapy services under skilled nursing facility, home health, and outpatient therapy benefits when a beneficiary needs skilled care to maintain function or to prevent or slow decline, as long as: Visit the Jimmo Settlement Agreement webpage for more information.

Nonpharmacological Pain Management: How Nursing and Therapy Can Collaborate

Historically, pain is underassessed and undertreated in the geriatric population, says Liz Barlow, RN, CRRN, RAC-CT, DNS-CT, QCP, vice president of marketing at Synchrony Health Services in Louisville, KY. “Up to 75 percent of community-dwelling people over the age of 65 in the United States report experiencing chronic pain.” The …

Involve the Therapy Team to Address Changes in Condition and Improve Resident Outcomes in Nursing Homes

By Liz Barlow, RN, CRRN, RAC-CT, DNS-CT, AVP Clinical Innovation, Synchrony Rehab At the end of August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) held a National Provider Stakeholder call to review some of the recent COVID updates. CMS commented that data collected, along with nursing home surveys, are …