Updated Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027 SNF VBP Performance Standards

This communication pertains to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program performance standards for the Total Nursing Staff Turnover (Nursing Staff Turnover) measure which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published in the FY 2024 SNF Prospective Payment System (PPS) …

Unlocking the Secrets of Accurate Documentation: Boost Compliance, Payment, and Care Quality in SNFs – Oct. 10, 2024

Members: $25 |  Non-members: $50Continuing Education: 1.25 CE hours Recording Date: Oct. 10, 2024Duration: 75 minutesSpeakers: Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA In the rapidly evolving skilled nursing facility (SNF) landscape, accurate clinical documentation remains a critical component impacting every facet of resident care and facility operations. …

CMS Revises QSO Memo re: Updates to Care Compare Staffing and Quality Measures

REVISED: Updates to Nursing Home Care Compare Staffing and Quality Measures Memo # QSO-25-01-NH REVISIONS TO QSO-23-21-NH, ORIGINALLY RELEASED ON September 20, 2023. • Adjustment to Staffing and Quality Measures: CMS will update the staffing level case-mix adjustment methodology and replace some of the Quality Measures (QMs) used on Nursing …

Conduct a Comprehensive Systems Review to Improve Quality Measure Outcomes

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how a comprehensive review of whole systems can help to improve Quality Measure outcomes in skilled nursing facilities and how …

Stop Assuming and Start Assessing: How to Improve Critical Thinking in Nurses

Identifying and dealing with a suspected change in condition before a clinical crisis occurs is a critical aspect of caring for fragile, elderly nursing home residents. To achieve that goal, nursing staff must think critically about the residents in their care. The director of nursing services (DNS) can take steps …

Early Lessons: How Onboarding and Retention Specialists May Boost Staffing 

Over the last decade, a strong orientation and onboarding process has been linked to higher levels of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and job satisfaction among nursing staff—leading to lower staff turnover and improved retention. Conversely, an inadequate onboarding process can quickly turn new hires into former employees, forcing providers to …

PPS Discharge Assessment: 10 Steps to a More Complete, Accurate MDS

The Medicare Part A PPS Discharge assessment (i.e., the NPE item set) is now a crucial assessment with far-reaching impacts for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP), the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) program, the Five-Star Quality Rating System, and …

CMS QSO Memo: Nursing Home Residents’ Right to Vote

Compliance with Residents’ Rights Requirement related to Nursing Home Residents’ Right to Vote Memo #QSO-24-21-NH Posting Date 2024-09-26 Fiscal Year 2024 Memorandum Summary• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is affirming the regulatory expectation that ensures nursing home residents have the unimpeded ability to exercise their right to …