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 …
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 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) …
Weekly health care personnel (HCP) & Resident COVID-19 Vaccination Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting Long-term care facilities can track weekly COVID-19 vaccination data for residents and healthcare personnel (HCP) through NHSN. November 2023 Updates Resources …
The October 2023 release of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) data is now available on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC). The data are based on quality assessment data submitted by SNFs to …
As part of our commitment to advance health equity and strengthen the Medicare Program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released two Health Equity Confidential Feedback Reports to post-acute care (PAC) providers: the …
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 …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is alerting Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) providers of upcoming measure removals from the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP). The following quality measures are planned for removal from …
In a Quality, Safety, and Oversight (QSO) memo released on Sept. 20, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stated they will update the staffing level case-mix adjustment methodology and replace some of …
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 Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Quality Measures (QM) User’s Manual V16.0 is now available. The MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual V16.0 contains detailed specifications for the MDS 3.0 quality measures and includes a Notable …
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 …
An update to the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document is now available. This document has been updated to reflect the finalized policies for the SNF QRP in …
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 …
The Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) Quality Measure Calculations and Reporting User’s Manual Version 5.0 serves as an update to the specifications used to calculate quality measures that are included in the SNF …
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 …
The August 2023 Performance Score Reports for the FY 2024 Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program are now available for download via the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). Instructions to access …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added administrator exclusion criteria to the PBJ public use files. The updated criteria excludes administrator data if a nursing home reports five or more administrators on four …
On June 14, 2023, the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) hosted the AAPACN 2023 Quality Virtual Conference, a one-day virtual conference that brought together leaders and experts in quality improvement to provide attendees …
The final rule and key files: Final Rule Permalink Correction Notice: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/10/04/2023-22050/medicare-program-prospective-payment-system-and-consolidated-billing-for-skilled-nursing-facilities FY 2024 PDPM ICD-1- Mapping (ZIP) (effective 10-01-2023) CMS-1779-F Wage Index Tables for FY 2024 – Final (ZIP) PDPM Case-Mix – Tables 5 and 6 …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a new Quality in Focus Series. The series includes a number of 10–15-minute videos that aim to reduce the deficiencies most commonly cited during survey. …
The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) …
Toolkit: Medical Record Review Methodology07-06-2023 | OEI-06-21-00030 | Complete Toolkit Toolkit: Clinical Guidance for Identifying Harm07-06-2023 | OEI-06-21-00031 | Complete Toolkit What are the Adverse Events (AE) Toolkits? The AE toolkits are technical resources to assist the …
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 …
The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) recently hosted the AAPACN 2023 Quality Virtual Conference, a one-day virtual conference that brought together leaders and experts in quality improvement to provide attendees with the information …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated two data products with skilled nursing facility utilization data for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA). The Medicare Advantage Geographic Variation PUF (MA GV PUF) now …
Memo # QSO-23-16-Hospitals Posting Date 2023-06-06 Fiscal Year 2023 CMS is committed to ensuring that the health and safety of patients are protected when discharges from hospitals and transfers to post-acute care providers occur. Therefore, …
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. …
CS1963652 Resolved Reports ALL iQIES Users are currently experiencing issues generating reports in HTML or downloading them in CSV/PDF format, presenting no data or limited data to users. Team is investigating and resolving actively 05/31/2023 …
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 …
CMS has posted the Discharge Function Score for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) Draft Technical Report: Imputation Appendix File, which accompanies the Discharge Function Score for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) Draft Technical Report. The Imputation Appendix …
Key excerpt: Nursing Homes We know that compliance helps an organization remain focused on providing high-quality care. OIG work has pinpointed breakdowns in quality of care across many health care sectors. Perhaps the most pronounced …
Question: Where do I find the Five-Star reports in iQIES? Answer from Kim Steele RN, WCC, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA: It can’t be accessed in iQIES at this time. You will continue to access some reports or …
SNOW IDs Status Categories Provider Types Description Date Reported Date Resolved Open Reports SNF Please be advised that the Submission Status for the HCP Influenza Vaccine measure is displaying incorrectly on the SNF Provider Threshold …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a free virtual conference May 1-3, 2023. The conference is focused on improving quality, equity, and innovation. Hear leaders speak on topics such as: Registration …
With the migration of Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment submissions and reporting into iQIES, the Provider and Quality Measure reports that are currently available in the Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting (CASPER) system will …
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
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. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/pac-snf-quickreferenceguide-20230207.pdf From https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Skilled-Nursing-Facility-Quality-Reporting-Program/SNF-Quality-Reporting-Program-Data-Submission-Deadlines
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 …
Measure specifications and calculations are detailed in this manual. March 2023 updates APPENDIX – Claims-based Measures Technical Specifications Updates 03-20-23.pdf and Nursing Home Compare Claims-based Measures Tech Specs 2023 From https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/NHQIQualityMeasures
COVID-19 in Nursing Homes :Experts Identified Actions Aimed at Improving Infection Prevention and Control Highlights What GAO Found The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), primarily through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services …
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 …
In this section, measures address: • High-risk, long-stay nursing home residents with pressure ulcers. • Long-stay nursing home residents with a urinary tract infection. • Long-stay nursing home residents experiencing one or more falls with …
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 …
You do have to register, but it’s free: Enhancing Quality Improvement Adoption in US Nursing Homes Johnson M, Renton M. Enhancing Quality Improvement Adoption in US Nursing Homes. Boston: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2023. (Available …
GAO-23-104813 Published: Jan 03, 2023. Publicly Released: Feb 02, 2023. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-104813 Fast Facts Care Compare is a web-based tool that lets consumers compare the quality ratings of health care providers participating in the Medicare program. …
More Than a Thousand Nursing Homes Reached Infection Rates of 75 Percent or More in the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic; Better Protections Are Needed for Future Emergencies (OEI-02-20-00491) Nursing homes had a surge of …
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 …
January 2023 The Improving Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act) requires the Secretary to specify resource use measures and other measures, on which post-acute care (PAC) providers are required to submit necessary data …
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 …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network Long-Term Care Facility Multidrug-Resistant Organism & Clostridioides difficile (MDRO/CDI) Infection Event Reporting Module Using Laboratory-identified Event Methodology offers protocols, tools and other resources at this site: …
Prevention Process Measures: Hand Hygiene, Gown and Glove Use Adherence Most Recent Updates Protocols Supporting Chapters Data Collection Forms & Instructions All Data Collection Forms are Print-only PPM Monthly Reporting Plan Annual Facility Survey FAQs …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network Long-Term Care Facility Urinary Tract Infection Module provides forms, tools, and other resources at this site: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/ltc/uti/index.html Most recent updates Protocols Supporting Chapters Data …
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 …
Note that CMS is planning a substantial revision to the adopted but still not implemented SNFPPR measure (SNF VBP) as well as to COVID-19 HCP Vaccination measure (SNF QRP). MUC2022-084* SNF QRP COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage …
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 …
Optimizing post-acute care patient safety: A scoping review of multifactorial fall prevention interventions for older adults Abstract: Accidental falls are preventable adverse events for older post-acute care (PAC) patients. Yet, due to the functional and …
Memo: 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 Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment …
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 …
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 …
On Oct. 24, 2022, surveyors will begin using new survey guidance to identify noncompliance with QAPI, trauma-informed care, and resident safety, including abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Skilled nursing facility (SNF) leaders should be in the …
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 …
These FAQs were created to address questions about Enhanced Barrier Precautions as defined in the CDC guidance “Implementation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Nursing Homes to Prevent Spread of Multidrug-resistant Organisms (MDROs)” FAQS addressed …
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) final rule may not “turn that frown upside down” as the popular saying goes, but it does give SNFs—and in some cases …
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 …
While most skilled nursing facility (SNF) leaders are aware of QAPI and have executed a QAPI plan, many view QAPI itself as nebulous, abstract, or vague. This lack of clarity complicates QAPI execution. This, in …
QAPI is a data-driven, proactive approach to improving the quality of care, life, and services for residents. A QAPI meeting is an opportunity for the QAA/QAPI Steering Committee to discuss performance of the full scope …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN and Dr. Rebecca Cahill, professor for the Research College of Nursing, discuss how lean healthcare …
Toolkit for States to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes (PDF) UPDATED (5/6/22) From https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/EPRO/Current-Emergencies/Current-Emergencies-page
This printable flyer infographic describes the Chain of Infection and How to Use it to Prevent the Spread of Infection in Long-Term Care (LTC) https://repository.netecweb.org/items/show/1666 Files for Download COI in LTC 4.29.2022 Final Compressed.pdf
With the release of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) proposed rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has signaled a significant commitment to pay-for-performance via …
While the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) put the brakes on many nursing home initiatives over the past two years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is ready to get back to business …
Proposed Specifications for the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (SNF VBP) Program: Total Nursing Hours per Resident Day Measure (PDF) From https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-Based-Programs/SNF-VBP/Measure
Nursing homes play a unique dual role in the long-term care continuum, serving as a place where people receive needed health care and a place they call home. Ineffective responses to the complex challenges of …
2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines Free access: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001063 Abstract Aim: The “2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for …
Registration and data submission resources. PBJ QTSO Registration and Training 02-24-2022 (PDF) From https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Staffing-Data-Submission-PBJ
Updates as of Feb. 17: Guidance streamlined Added links to guidance on testing for determining length of work restriction for healthcare personnel with SARS-CoV-2 infection or exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and for mitigating staff shortages in healthcare settings Time period …
Imagine sitting in a quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) meeting while different team members take turns reporting count data or the number of occurrences of an issue in the month. For example, the director …
Jan 26, 2022 As part of its commitment to improve transparency and help families and caregivers find the best quality of nursing home care for their loved ones, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services …
The January 2022 refresh of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) data is now available on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC). The data are based on quality assessment data submitted by SNFs to …
Weekend Staffing: The level of total nurse and registered nurse (RN) staffing on weekends provided by each nursing home over a quarter. Staff Turnover: The percent of nursing staff and number of administrators that stopped …
Memo # QSO-22-08-NH Posting Date 2022-01-07 Fiscal Year 2022 Summary CMS will begin posting the following information for each nursing home on the Medicare.gov Care Compare website: Weekend Staffing: The level of total nurse and …
Misunderstandings about the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) can involve everything from the risk adjustments to the quality measure (QM) calculations to how to use certain reports. These issues can cause headaches …
