The year 2024 brings a plethora of updates to the Medicare program, several significantly impacting skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). SNF staff must stay well informed about these updates to ensure proper billing and adequate coverage for a beneficiary’s skilled stay. This comprehensive article delves into key updates, encompassing changes in …
Like in-house hospital readmissions, post-discharge hospital readmissions can affect provider performance in the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing Program (SNF VBP), says Carol Hill, MSN, RN, LNHA, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, CPC, president of Hill Educational Services in Warrior, AL. “With the Skilled Nursing Facility 30 Day All-Cause Readmission Measure …
The expedited determination beneficiary notification process covers a lot of ground in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), affecting residents in the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare Part A program and Medicare Advantage plans, as well as residents who receive Part B rehabilitation therapies under consolidated billing, says Carol Maher, RN-BC, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on the Dec. 7 Skilling Nursing Facilities/Long-Term Care Open Door Forum that the drug classification of anticonvulsants will be added to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) item set starting Oct. 1, 2024. The new item will be added to N0415, High-risk …
It’s important to communicate regularly with the dialysis partner regarding a resident’s status for continuity of care. The facility should communicate certain details to the dialysis partner and vice versa on days the resident has dialysis. Use this tool to improve communication between providers regarding a resident’s current status on …
A top-down or autocratic management style is becoming increasingly outdated for dealing with today’s healthcare workforce in non-emergent situations. Other leadership styles, such as transformational leadership, often work better to help staff feel valued, supported, and satisfied in their job—and to give them the sense of ownership in creating positive …
Communication is key to providing residents quality care. This is especially true for dialysis patients who are particularly vulnerable: lack of communication can lead to missed dialysis appointments, medication errors, adverse events, and rehospitalization. This article will provide the director of nursing services (DNS) tips to improve communication with both …
Effective communication is the glue holding the MDS process together, says Stacy Grondel, BSN, RN, RAC-MT, CMAC, QCP. director of reimbursement operations at QRM in Addison, TX. “The nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) who is a strong communicator can develop better working relationships with the interdisciplinary team and executive leadership—and establish …
In this podcast, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss a few outstanding questions that members asked during the recent AAPACN webinar, Keep Quality Measures Hot During the Five-Star Freeze.
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When the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) goes on vacation, there’s a lot to keep track of while they are out of office. The MDS Daily Startup for the NAC Backup tool is intended to help the NAC backup position organize their day when covering during the primary NAC’s absence. The …
