Question: Does providing drain care (emptying and dressing change) three times per week qualify as skilled care for Medicare Part A? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: Emptying the drain and completing a dressing change three times per week does not qualify for skilled care, but this …
Question: Is it mandatory for the physician to sign the Medicare certification on the day of admission? If the resident is admitted late in the evening and is not seen by the physician until the following day, may the certification be signed the next day without a penalty? Answer from …
The SNF Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on the compare tool on Medicare.gov and the Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the October 2026 refresh. Provider Preview Reports for the October 2026 refresh include: Providers have until August 14, 2026, to …
The Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system will move into iQIES on Aug. 17, 2026. Moving PBJ into iQIES is part of ongoing work to modernize systems and improve security. Starting Aug. 17, facilities must submit all PBJ staffing data in iQIES. Reporting requirements and quarterly deadlines will not change. Visit the QIES Technical Support Office webpage for more information. This AAPACN …
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 …
From MLN Connects eNews In a report, the Office of Inspector General found that some skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) didn’t comply with Medicare requirements for reporting related party costs. These SNFs failed to report related parties on their Medicare Cost Reports or reported the costs inaccurately, resulting in overstated costs to …
Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment continues to grow, with more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries now receiving their coverage through an MA plan. But as enrollment has increased, so have concerns regarding coverage determinations in skilled nursing facilities …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated its Skilled Nursing Facility 3-Day Rule Billing MLN booklet. While the basic qualifying stay requirements remain the same, the revised guidance includes an important update for facilities participating in certain Medicare payment models, such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and …
In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, continue to answer questions from the AAPACN webinar, Declutter Your Coding: Spring Cleaning Tips for ICD-10-CM Success in LTC, which was presented April 30, 2026.
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Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. June’s Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder of the growing impact of cognitive disorders in long-term care (LTC) settings, where many residents live with complex dementia-related needs. Interdisciplinary teams care for residents whose diagnoses …
