Every spring, the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) anticipates the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) proposed rule. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides a 60-day comment period. After a review of the comments, the Final Rule is published in late summer. Historically, …
An updated Quick Reference Guide is now available. The Quick Reference Guide provides high-level information on the SNF Quality Reporting Program, including frequently asked questions and helpful links. PAC-SNF-QuickReferenceGuide-20250508 (PDF) From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/snf-quality-reporting-program/submission-deadlines
Hand hygiene is the most important weapon in preventing the spread of disease. Germs can spread between people or surfaces when they are touched by someone who then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. Use this Hand Hygiene Competency Tool to ensure staff are washing their hands …
Danielle Pierotti, PhD, RN The high-profile murders of Joyce Grayson, LPN, in Connecticut, and Douglass Brandt, RN, in Washington shook us all. However, once the shock wore off, we were tempted to excuse it, believing these extreme incidences are so rare that they do not pose a risk. There are …
The nurse leader plays an integral role in the disciplinary process in a home health agency. Managing employee performance can be challenging, but it is necessary. Failure to address employees’ negative behaviors and actions can destroy morale among the staff. Knowing when and how to discipline is key. However, the …
In this podcast, 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 the sequencing of ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding. Additional Resources: AAPACN Articles: AAPACN Education: AAPACN Tool:
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The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code assignment continues to be a bit of an enigma in the long-term care setting. Members regularly ask questions about ICD-10-CM coding in AAPACN’s online communities, as well as in post-education surveys, often confused about how to order the codes. …
In a complex care environment where workforce development and regulatory demands are constantly evolving, National Health Care Associates is setting a new standard. With a sharp focus on equipping staff at every level with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to lead, they’ve turned AAPACN Organizational Membership into more than a …
FY 2026 SNF VBP Program Fact Sheet (PDF) From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/nursing-home-improvement/value-based-purchasing (also updated with FY 2026 information) SNF VBP Program: FY 2026 Incentive Payment Multiplier Calculation Infographic (PDF). From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/nursing-home-improvement/value-based-purchasing/scoring-methodology-payment-adjustment
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) does not propose any new quality measures (QMs) for the pay-for-performance Skilled Nursing Value-Based Purchasing program (SNF VBP) in the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) and Consolidated Billing Proposed Rule for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. However, three QMs …
