The career path of a director of nursing services (DNS) is both challenging and rewarding. Long-term care nurses who choose to take on the DNS role can have success with the right resources. Part two of this DNS Career Advancement blog series will focus on tips for competent DNSs and …
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 Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN discuss when and why the SNF Advanced Beneficiary Notice should be used.
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F641, Accuracy of the Minimum Data Set (MDS), remains one of the most frequently cited F-Tags during surveys, for good reason. The MDS is a critical foundation of resident assessment, care planning, reimbursement, and quality measurement. When the assessment is inaccurate, everything that flows from it is at risk. The …
Question: A resident has a healing pressure ulcer that was described as “100 % epithelial, with slow blanching erythema” during the ARD window. Would this still be coded as a pressure ulcer? Answer from Carol Maher, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, CPC: Code the ulcer as present unless completely healed …
Question: If a resident is losing weight and ordered supplements as an intervention, can we code as a therapeutic diet? Answer from Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC:If the supplements were ordered by a physician or physician extender (as allowed in your state) to increase nutrients in the diet …
Question: If a resident on Medicare Part A admits and discharges to home on the same day, can we bill Medicare for that day? Answer from Scott Heichel, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, QCP, ICC, IPCO: If a Medicare resident discharges to a non-Medicare participating location (home, expires) the same day …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated data validation audits to evaluate the accuracy of quality measure data elements used in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and the Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program. The SNF Validation Audit Checklist guides SNFs through the data validation audit …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Quality Measures (QM) User’s Manual, version (V)18.0, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026. This update contains the re-specification of the Long Stay Antipsychotic Measure to include Medicare and Medicaid claims and encounter data, in …
When a resident’s Medicare Part A skilled stay ends, two types of resident notification processes may be required under the Beneficiary Notices Initiative: the standard denial process and the expedited appeal process. In the standard appeal process, the Skilled Nursing Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage (SNF ABN) is an …
Respiratory viruses carry the potential for serious illness and can lead to hospitalization. Vaccination is an integral part of a proactive infection control program that combats these viruses. Nurse leaders can use this toolkit to audit and track influenza, pneumococcal, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccinations. Updated: Dec. 9, …
