Taking the Mystery out of the Facility Assessment

Everyone loves a good mystery. Many like to watch their favorite mysteries on television or read a good thriller. However, mystery and suspense should not be a part of the facility assessment review. The final staffing rule released in April 2024 requires all facilities accepting Medicare and Medicaid payments to …

SNF VBP Early Look Performance Score Report Webinar and Materials

Overview of the Early Look Performance Score Report for the SNF VBP Program The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed and published the Overview of the Early Look Performance Score Report for the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program webinar materials, including the slides, recording, transcript, and answers …

Common Myths about SNF Medicare Advantage Plan Management

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Maureen McCarthy, RN, BS, RAC-MT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, RAC-MTA, president and CEO of Celtic Consulting, and AAPACN board member, dispel some common myths and concerns related to Medicare Advantage plan management in skilled nursing …

NAC Preparation Guide for the Triple Check Meeting Tool

Gathering all of the necessary reports for the triple check meeting is a lot for nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) to keep track of. AAPACN’s NAC Preparation Guide for the Triple Check Meeting tool can help keep the NAC organized and ensure all requirements of Medicare billing are in place prior …

PPS Discharge Assessment: Why Is It More Important Than Ever?

Nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) will soon begin preparing the interdisciplinary team for the finalized MDS 3.0 version 1.19.1 item set changes, as well as the revised coding instructions in the yet-to-be-finalized Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s Manual v1.19.1 (RAI User’s Manual), that will go into effect on …

Minimum Staffing Standards Rule: Correction

Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting; Correction     SUMMARY: This document corrects typographical and technical errors in the final rule that appeared in the May 10, 2024 Federal Register, entitled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for …

A Closer Look at the Medicare Part A Presumption of Coverage

Skilled nursing facility (SNF) staff must understand the intricate guidelines that regulate Medicare Part A coverage for SNF stays. Several technical requirements must be met before a resident qualifies for a Medicare Part A SNF stay. For example, the resident must have benefit days available, meet the 3-day qualifying hospital …