Monitoring and reducing the use of antipsychotic medications is a high priority for many nursing facilities. Top concerns are the increased risk of adverse effects for residents taking these medications, the scrutiny of their management …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss what to expect this January …
In late December, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated version of the MDS 3.0 Quality Measures (QM) User’s Manual (version 17.0), which went into effect Jan. 1, 2025. The major …
The Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Quality Measures (QM) User’s Manual Version (V)17.0 is now available. The MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual V17.0 contains detailed specifications for the MDS 3.0 QMs and includes a Notable …
Data Set Links COVID-19 Vaccination Rates – State and National Averages State and National averages for facility resident and healthcare personnel COVID-19 vaccination rates. Data are presented as one row per state or territory plus …
Long-term care facilities can track weekly vaccination data for residents and healthcare personnel (HCP) through NHSN. December 2024 Updates Person-Level Data Collection Forms and Instructions LTCF Resident Optional Person Level Reporting for Long Term Care …
Question: A resident came to our facility for a short stay with a Stage 4 pressure ulcer. The resident has since exhausted his 100 days of Medicare, became a long-term resident, and still has the …
The AAPACN 2024 Quality Virtual Conference concluded each day with a robust live question and answer (Q&A) session, but not all questions had the opportunity to be answered live. AAPACN recently released the answers to …
CMS created the Five-Star Quality Rating System to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily. The Nursing Home Compare Web site features a quality rating system that gives each nursing home …
The December 2024 Quarterly Confidential Feedback Reports for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program are now available to download via the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). These …
Although spring may seem like a mirage right now, it’s time for nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) to prepare for a literal thaw in the Five-Star Quality Rating System. As of January 2025, the Care Compare …
Care Compare refreshes MDS 3.0 Quality Measure (QM) data quarterly in January, April, July, and October with the most recent four full quarters of data. AAPACN’s Five-Star and Care Compare MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Data …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated reporting requirements for respiratory pathogens that will become effective Jan. 1, 2025. The CDC announced the following webinar on the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) …
Sepsis—a key driver of hospital readmissions—can have negative clinical impacts for residents and negative financial, quality, survey, and even legal impacts for nursing homes. Here is a review of important basics: What is sepsis? The …
With so many Quality Measures originating from three different payment initiative programs, it’s a lot to keep track of. AAPACN’s At-a-Glance QM, QRP, and VBP tool organizes all of the measures for you. This tool has been …
The HCP Flu Vaccination Module, which is part of the HCP component in NHSN, is used to input required NHSN data for the SNF QRP. This site provides access to the HCP Vaccination Module: Influenza …
Vaccination measures play a critical role in long-term care, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) closely monitors vaccination data to ensure the safety of residents and staff. Nineteen different measures for vaccination …
Final FEMA Exception Memo for Helene: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/snf-quality-reporting-program/reconsideration-and-exception-extension Hurricane Helene – South Carolina and Tennessee (2024) Secretary Becerra used his authority in the Public Health Service Act to declare a public health emergency (PHE) on September 30, 2024, …
Question: I found that some of our assessments with dashes received both errors -3897 and -3908 for the same assessment. Will both of these errors count against the facility’s SNF QRP annual payment update (APU) …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in the QSO-25-1-NH memo that the Discharge Function Score measure will not be used in the October 2024 Five-Star Quality Rating System and will remain frozen …
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 …
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 …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss Quality Measures and some fundamentals about …
The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Long-Term Care Facility Component Manual Tracking Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) in Long-term Care Facilities The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Manual 2025 COVID-19 VACCINATION PROTOCOL Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Module for …
The newest section GG Quality Measure (QM), the Discharge Function Score, has left many nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) with more questions than answers about how it is calculated. This measure estimates the percentage of Medicare …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a web-based training course that provides a high-level overview of how data elements within CMS patient/resident assessment instruments are used to construct quality measures (QMs) …
The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Quality Measure Calculations and Reporting User’s Manual Version 6.0 and accompanying documents are now available. The SNF QRP Measure Calculations and Reporting User’s Manual Version 6.0 …
An update to the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) FreAn update to the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document is now available. This document has …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering an updated series of web-based training courses that provide an overview of the assessment and guidance to promote accurate coding of the post-acute care (PAC) …
Long-term care facilities can track weekly vaccination data for residents and healthcare personnel (HCP) through NHSN. August 2024 Updates Resources Influenza/RSV July 2024 Updates Timestamps in NHSN Beginning August 8, 2024, timestamps in the NHSN …
The QIO program has updated its resources list to offer a searchable database of tools and resources from across all QIOs that SNFs, NFs, and other providers may access for free. For example, recent video-on-demand …
Question: Is there a report that can be pulled that shows exactly which assessments are falling out of compliance with the SNF QRP APU reporting threshold so we can review to ensure proper MDS coding? …
The Five Star Preview Reports will be available on or around July 24, 2024. Provider Preview Reports have moved to iQIES as of August 2023. Please follow the steps below to locate the Provider Preview …
What You Need to Know: PAC QRP Key Program Updates – FY/CY 2025 About This Course The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering this cross-setting web-based training course that provides an …
Multidrug-Resistant Organism & Clostridioides difficile (MDRO/CDI) Infection Event Reporting Module Using Laboratory-identified Event Methodology July 2024 updates Data Collection Forms & Instructions All Data Collection Forms are Print-only MDRO/CDI Events LabID Event Form for LTCF – July …
July 2024 Updates Data Collection Forms & Instructions All Data Collection Forms are Print-only UTI Events UTI Event for LTCF – July 2024 (57.140) [PDF – 285 KB] Customizable form [DOC – 95 KB] Table of Instructions [PDF …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Standing Technical Expert Panel (TEP) for the Development, Evaluation, and Maintenance of Post-Acute Care (PAC) and Hospice Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Measurement Sets Summary …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a memo (QSO-24-24-NH) detailing the updates coming to the Care Compare website later in July 2024. These updates include: This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN …
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 …
Question: Does it count against the SNF APU Threshold, if we dashed the BIMS/PHQ-2 to 9 for residents who were only in the facility for two days, had unplanned discharges, and did not return to …
The Quick Guide to the SNF QRP iQIES Report: Resident-Level QM Report tool offers detailed information on how to interpret the SNF QRP Resident-Level Report for each MDS-based measure, depending on if the resident has …
Someone with an intelligence quotient (IQ) of 130 may be considered above average for intelligence but still not understand the complexities of the MDS 3.0 Quality Measures (QMs). This series of articles on QMs will …
The Age-Friendly Health Systems: Guide to Care of Older Adults in Nursing Homes and the Age-Friendly Health Systems: A Workbook for Nursing Home Teams are designed to be used simultaneously to help care teams in …
Formerly called the NDNQI Modules, these NPIAP complimentary training modules are aligned with the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcer/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guidelines. Modules 1 – 3 are free with registration: Module 1: Pressure Injury Staging …
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-20240425 (PDF) From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/snf-quality-reporting-program/submission-deadlines
To: iQIES Users, CMS Staff CMS security policy requires deactivation of user roles for inactive accounts.To align with CMS security policies, iQIES will begin implementing an inactive user policy this month. This will allow CMS …
https://www.cdc.gov/long-term-care-facilities/hcp/prevent-mdro/faqs.html AT A GLANCE Frequently asked questions about using enhanced barrier precautions in nursing homes to prevent MDROs. ON THIS PAGE
Question: If a resident triggered the Quality Measure for long-stay indwelling catheter in Jan. 2024 and then passed away, would his passing remove him from triggering the measure? Answer from Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, …
AAPACN recently submitted a question to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Support email to inquire about when providers can expect to see the two Transfer of Health information measures (to resident/to …
In calendar year 2023, F712 (Physician Visits – Frequency/Timeliness/Alternate Nonphysician Practitioners (NPPs)) was the most frequently cited F-tag among the six physician services citations—and only 0.8 percent of nursing homes received that citation, according to …
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) today must manage more than 40 Quality Measures (QMs) from several different programs: the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 QMs, Five-Star Quality Rating System, SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program, and SNF …
The Early Look Performance Score Reports for the FY 2026 SNF VBP Program are now available for download via the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). Beginning in the FY 2026 Program year, the …
Issued on 02/26/2024 | Posted on 02/29/2024 | Report number: OEI-02-20-00492 Report Materials Full Report (PDF, 1.5 MB) Why OIG Did This Review Nursing home residents and staff have been especially impacted by the COVID‑19 pandemic. Now, it is critical to learn from …
One of the frustrations nursing home providers have experienced since the transition to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 version 1.18.11 that went into effect on Oct. 1, 2023, is being able to effectively monitor …
Question: If a resident is dependent on staff for functional items in section GG and they also had a decline in their bowel or bladder status, will they trigger for the New or Worsened Bowel …
Main Points Deprescribing has emerged as a clinical practice to reduce polypharmacy and use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and serve as a mechanism for quality improvement and increased patient safety. The purpose of this …
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 …
Hand Hygiene, Gown and Glove Use Adherence Protocols Supporting Chapters Data Collection Forms & Instructions All Data Collection Forms are Print-only PPM Monthly Reporting Plan Annual Facility Survey LTCF Training FAQs Supporting Materials Guidance Documents …
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 …
Weekly / December 22, 2023 / 72(51);1371–1376 Summary What is already known about this topic? Nursing home residents are vulnerable to infection with and complications from SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Vaccination reduces severe …
From the Moving Forward Coalition and the Live Oaks Project: https://movingforwardcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Guidance-on-Culture-Change-for-Nursing-Home-Quality-Improvement.pdf?mc_cid=d4ffa43439&mc_eid=0c83b59b91
This document presents technical specifications for the production of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) claims-based measures (CBMs) for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program maintained by the Centers for …
The continuing expansion of the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing program (SNF VBP) quality measure (QM) set is part of a multi-pronged approach by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to encourage improvements …
The transition from section G to section GG on Oct. 1, 2023, also had a substantial impact on Quality Measures (QMs) and the Five-Star Quality Rating System. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released updates to the MDS 3.0 Quality Measures User’s Manual (v.16.0) and the Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating System: Technical User’s Guide (September 2023). Many of …
Memo (Technical corrections posted: 09/27/2023): QSO-23-01-NH (PDF) Press release: Changes to CMS’ Special Focus Facilities program will increase scrutiny, hold facilities accountable for substandard safety and quality, and improve care for residents As part of the …
Memo # QSO-23-23-NHs Posting Date 2023-09-25 Fiscal Year 2023 Title Memorandum Summary CMS is committed to reinvesting civil money penalty (CMP) funds for projects to support the quality of care and life for nursing home …
The key takeaway of the Fiscal Year (FY 2024) Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) final rule, published on Aug. 7, 2023, is that the director of nursing services (DNS) will need to …
2023 Measure Updates and Specifications Report Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing Program Skilled Nursing Facility 30-Day All-Cause Readmission Measure –Version 2.0 This report describes updates that have been made to the Skilled Nursing Facility 30-Day …
Breathing room will be in short supply for nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) and other interdisciplinary team members who need to implement and monitor the multitude of changes to the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program …
he FY 2024 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Final Rule (88 FR 53200) revised data collection and submission requirements for the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) affecting the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 …
Table of Contents 1. Launch/Help Questions 1.1 Will iQIES have the same spec version at launch as QIES (version 3.00.1 including Errata Version3.00.8)? _____________________________________________ 1.2 How do I register for iQIES? 1.3 Whom can I …
Restorative nursing took a big hit in many nursing homes during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), says Carol Hill, MSN, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, CPC, president of Hill Educational Services in Warrior, AL. …
Nurse assessment coordinators can use AAPACN’s When MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Triggers Start and Stop quick guide to determine when a resident will start and stop triggering an MDS 3.0 Quality Measure (QM) based on …
A systematic approach to utilizing the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES), (formerly CASPER), reports is necessary for QAPI, survey readiness, and reimbursement. While there are numerous reports available via iQIES, this tool highlights …
CoreQ: Short Stay Discharge Survey CoreQ Short Stay Discharge Survey Protocols and Guidelines Manual and additional resources CMS-10852 (ZIP) From https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/paperworkreductionactof1995/pra-listing/cms-10852
On April 4, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) proposed rule for public inspection. The payment news is …
This report presents the Discharge Function Score measure specifications. Section 2 provides an overview of the measure and a high-level summary of the key features of the measure that are described in detail in the …
The National Emerging Special Pathogen Training and Education Center (NETEC) has released a workbook for “assessing operational elements for special pathogen preparedness, response, and recovery unique to the long-term care setting.” The workbook is designed …
Video Tutorials Available to Assist with Coding Specific Section GG Items The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is releasing a series of short videos to assist providers with coding select Section GG items on …
During a QAA/QAPI meeting, the director of human resources announces the monthly staff turnover rate and shares information about a job fair she will attend. After this report, another department director takes a turn sharing …
Updates to the Nursing Home Care Compare Website and Five Star Quality Rating System: Adjusting Quality Measure Ratings Based on Erroneous Schizophrenia Coding, and Posting Citations Under Dispute Summary • Adjusting Quality Measure Ratings: CMS …
The purpose of the Third Edition Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) COVID-19 Public Reporting (PR) Tip Sheet is to help providers understand CMS’ public reporting approach to the SNF QRP to account for CMS …
With the Staffing domain in the Five-Star Quality Rating System more complex than ever, Jessie McGill, RN, RAC-MTA, RAC-MT, a curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, offers directors of nursing services (DNSs) and other nurse managers …
A systematic approach to utilizing the CASPER reports is necessary for monitoring Quality Measures, managing MDS assessments, and reimbursement. While there are numerous reports available via CASPER, AAPACN’s Guide to Key MDS-Related CASPER Reports for …
Staffing is a topic that is always on the director of nursing services’ (DNS’s) mind, and its importance only continues to increase. Usually, the focus is on filling open positions to meet workload demands. However, …
October 1 is always an important date because it marks the transition to a new fiscal year for the fee-for-service Medicare Part A skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (SNF PPS). However, the next two …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) requires PBJ data to be submitted at least quarterly. It is imperative that this data is accurate as it is publicly reported and impacts the Five Star …
In this QAPI video series, a QI expert walks through best practices for starting and leading a successful PIP/QIP, looking at important decisions to consider in starting a performance improvement plan, as well as highlighting …
CMS will be transitioning to a new data source for a provider’s demographic data for all five Post-Acute Care (PAC) provider types (Skilled Nursing Facilities / Nursing Facilities (SNF/NFs), Home Health Agencies (HHAs), Inpatient Rehabilitation …
The recognition of nurses for their roles in diagnosis is critical to achieving diagnostic safety improvements and advancements. Contemporary recommendations from the diagnostic safety literature highlight actions nurse leaders and educators can take to improve …
More than 100 members nationwide have come together to launch the Moving Forward Quality Coalition, which plans to launch actions for nursing home improvements in early 2023. Topic areas include the following: Person-Centeredness, Culture Change, …
While key details are still pending, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) final rule makes clear that meeting the reporting requirements of the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting …
The July 2022 Care Compare refresh reflected a major overhaul of how the Five-Star Staffing stars are calculated. The staffing domain is now based on six staffing measures, three based on hours per resident day …
