Since the start of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) in October 2019, the International Classifications of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) has been thrust into the forefront of daily tasks for the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC). ICD codes were always applied in long-term care (before 2015, ICD-9-CM codes were …
Protecting and supporting the nursing home workforce is not optional—it is the daily work of managers and leaders, says Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MS, CPPS, senior advisor for safety at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), president of the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety, and co-chair of the National Steering …
F-tag 689 (Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices) was the No. 1 tag cited at the immediate jeopardy (IJ) level in 2023—and remains at the top halfway into 2024, according to QCOR data accessed on June 30, 2024. In many ways, F689 is a catch-all tag, says Angie Szumlinski, LNHA, RN, GERO-BC, …
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 …
Think about individualization like the almost endless variations of coffee drinks available these days. With an extra pump of this or a drizzle of that, we enjoy endless ways to individualize our order. Beyond coffee, we all have our own routines and ways to complete different tasks, from what we …
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 …
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 …
The 30-day transfer rule and its medical appropriateness exception typically don’t come up on a daily basis in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), yet these requirements—and flexibilities—are a key component of the fee-for-service Medicare Part A rules for SNF coverage in chapter 8, “Coverage of Extended-Care (SNF) Services Under Hospital Insurance,” …
Using technologies to engage residents with dementia is becoming increasingly common in nursing homes across the country. Local news shows are peppered with segments on facilities using dancing robots, robotic cats, and other technologies that are designed to improve the quality of life for these residents. However, providers must proceed …
F-tag 689 (Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices) was the top immediate jeopardy (IJ) citation nationwide—and the second most-frequent citation overall—in calendar year (CY) 2023, and that citation pattern is being maintained so far in CY 2024, according to QCOR data accessed May 7, 2024. Falls are a frequent driver of F689 …
