CMS Quality, Safety, & Oversight memo QSO-21-19-NH includes new interpretive guidance for surveyors for F887 (COVID-19 Immunization), as well as updated investigative procedures, potential tags for additional investigation, and survey tools. In addition, the memo …
By CMS COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID) Residents, Clients, and Staff Link to CMS release: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-expanding-efforts-grow-covid-19-vaccine-confidence-and-uptake-amongst-nations-most-vulnerable AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid …
By the OIG Report OEI-07-19-00490 The Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMS’s) use of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) as the sole data source to count the …
Most recent updates: May 5, 2021 CDC’s NHSN provides healthcare facilities, such as long-term care facilities (LTCFs), with a secure reporting platform for reporting outcomes and process measures in a systematic way. Reported data are immediately …
New tool provides innovative solutions for states and facilities to protect our nation’s vulnerable nursing home residents during emergency CMS has released a Toolkit for States to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes (PDF) UPDATED (5/5/21) developed to aid …
While areas of concern related to medication administration (i.e., medication pass or med pass) are specific to each facility, there are certain common issues. Directors of nursing services (DNSs) can use the following tips to …
Summary of Recent Changes Updates as of March 29, 2021 Two prior guidance documents, “Responding to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes” and “Performing Facility-wide SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Nursing Homes” were merged with this guidance. The criteria …
Memo # QSO-21-15-ALL Posting Date 2021-03-26 Fiscal Year 2021 Summary Burden Reduction Final Rule Interpretive Guidelines: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing interpretive guidelines and updates to Appendix Z of the …
The FDA posted a new web page SARS-CoV-2 Viral Mutations: Impact on COVID-19 Tests for clinical laboratory staff and health care providers about the impact of viral mutations on COVID-19 molecular, antigen, and serology tests. This web …
ASPR TRACIE (part of the US Department of Health and Human Services) received a request for information on clinical presentation, disease progression, and related information from clinicians in the field treating COVID-19 patients after the …
Date 2021-03-23 Event Long-Term Care: Dementia-related Psychosis Call Topic Dementia Care in Nursing Homes When: Tuesday, March 23, 2021, from 1:30 to 3 pm ET Event Materials: Presentation (PDF) Audio recording (ZIP) Transcript (PDF) Description: National …
Guidance released March 10, 2021 regarding Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC affects only select elements of the current Nursing Home ICAR tool until an updated version of the …
Enforcement Memoranda Interim Enforcement Response Plan https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/standards#temp_enforcement_guidance OSHA’s interim enforcement response plan memoranda provide instructions and guidance to Area Offices and compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) for handling COVID-19-related complaints, referrals, and severe illness …
CMS Use of Data on Nursing Home Staffing: Progress and Opportunities To Do More (OEI-04-18-00451) The OIG has made four key recommendations related to staffing that CMS concurred with. These recommendations state that CMS should: Provide …
Note: The Access to Ombudsman information is highlighted in red in the memo, but that is what was revised in July. The new updates focus on the updated Q&As under the section, Individuals Entering and …
On March 10, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued updated guidance for nursing homes to safely expand visitation options during …
High nursing staff turnover in nursing homes offers important quality information Gandhi A, Yu H, Grabowski DC. Health Aff (Millwood). 2021 Prior research has found that high nursing staff turnover is associated with lower patient safety culture. …
Updated Mar. 10, 2021 Find the most recent update here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-after-vaccination.html CDC guidance for SARS-CoV-2 infection may be adapted by state and local health departments to respond to rapidly changing local circumstances. On this page Visitation …
NOTE: CMS revised guidance on March 10, 2021 for nursing home visitation during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, which supersedes the visitation guidance in this memo. See CMS memorandum QSO-20-39-NH Revised, Nursing Home Visitation-COVID-19. ————————————————————————————————- …
Mar 10, 2021 Nursing homes have been severely impacted by COVID-19, with outbreaks causing high rates of infection, morbidity, and mortality.[1] The vulnerable nature of the nursing home population, combined with the inherent risks of congregate …
Full text: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/133/text Sections addressing SNF VBP changes and access to services for hemophilia residents: SEC. 111. IMPROVING MEASUREMENTS UNDER THE SKILLED NURSING FACILITY VALUE-BASED PURCHASING PROGRAM UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. …
Updates as of February 10, 2021 Updated the Implement Universal Use of Personal Protective Equipment section to expand options for source control and patient care activities in areas of moderate to substantial transmission and describe …
A resource guide, written by and for directors of nursing, administrators, and other nursing home leaders, outlines steps to reduce or eliminate urgent staff shortages, particularly shortages of direct care workers. This guide is from the …
Weekly HCP & Resident COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting Long-term care facilities can track weekly COVID-19 vaccination data for residents and healthcare personnel (HCP) through NHSN. This reporting is currently optional. Training Reporting Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Data …
ASPR TRACIE Emergency Preparedness Report: Identifying and Overcoming Healthcare Communications Vulnerabilities: Nashville, TN While the Christmas morning recreational vehicle blast outside the AT&T transmission facility in Nashville did not cause a mass fatality incident, it …
As part of our nation’s critical infrastructure, healthcare facilities large and small must be proactive and move quickly to protect themselves from cyberattacks that could directly impact the health and safety of patients and the …
COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers & Flexibilities for Health Care Providers (PDF) UPDATED (2/19/21) Long Term Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities and/or Nursing Facilities) (PDF) UPDATED (02/03/21) From https://www.cms.gov/about-cms/emergency-preparedness-response-operations/current-emergencies/coronavirus-waivers
AHRQ has released the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report: Chartbook on Patient Safety 2021, which offers an overview of nonidentifiable, aggregated patient safety event and near-miss information that has been voluntarily reported by AHRQ-listed Patient Safety Organizations. …
The Five Star Preview Reports were available on February 15, 2021. To access these reports, select the CASPER Reporting link located on the CMS QIES Systems for Providers page. Once in the CASPER Reporting system, …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers strategies for optimizing the supply of: N95 respirators Face masks Isolation gowns Eye Protection Gloves Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) Elastomeric respirators Ventilators https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html Also see: Summary …
DATE: June 1, 2020 REVISED 01/04/2021 TO: State Survey Agency Directors FROM: Director Quality, Safety & Oversight Group SUBJECT: Revised COVID-19 Survey Activities, CARES Act Funding, Enhanced Enforcement for Infection Control deficiencies, and Quality Improvement …
This ZIP file contains resources for surveyors conducting initial surveys under the Long-term Care Survey Process (LTCSP). 2/5 updates LTCSP Procedure Guide Expansion of complaints/FRIs in LTCSP during recertification survey LTCSP 11.9.5 User Guide Expansion …
The LTCSP Procedure Guide provides instruction on the procedural and software steps necessary for completing the LTCSP. Use the Procedure Guide for all standard surveys of SNFs and NFs, whether freestanding, distinct parts, or dually …
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 …
For more recent information about CMS survey priorities, also see QSO memo QSO-20-31-ALL-REVISED. ————————————————————– Background CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s health care facilities and clinical laboratories are prepared to respond …
Question: Do the Focused Infection Control (FIC) surveys affect my facility’s Five-Star rating? Answer: Yes, the Focused Infection Control (FIC) surveys do affect a facility’s Five-Star rating. Deficiencies cited on FIC surveys are treated slightly …
Main Points Opioids are probably less effective than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for surgical dental pain and kidney stone pain and might be similarly effective to NSAIDs for low back pain. Opioids might be and …
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 …
March 27, 2021 update: Also see CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes. This document provides a summary of considerations for use of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) …
Impact on molecular tests remains low January 08, 2021 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting clinical laboratory staff and health care providers that the FDA is monitoring the potential impact of viral mutations, …
QSO Memo, Resources, and Press Release re: CMS Online Platform for Submissions of 1135 Waiver Requests and Inquiries 1. QSO memo: New Platform for Submissions of 1135 Waiver Requests and Inquiries – Go Live Memo …
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) Laboratories Surveyor Guidance for New and Modified CLIA Requirements Related to SARS-CoV-2 Test Result Reporting Memo # QSO-21-10-CLIA Posting Date 2021-01-08 Fiscal Year 2021 Summary • CMS is …
Long-Term Care Facility Toolkit: Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccination at Your Facility Answering Common Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines This toolkit provides long-term care facility (LTCF) administrators and clinical leadership with information and resources to help build …
Surveyors use critical element pathways (CEPs) to work through the steps of their investigation and to determine compliance with several federal regulations. In addition to CEPs, other tools including observational guides are also used to …
CDC provides information on COVID-19 vaccinations for residents and staff: Importance of COVID-19 Vaccination for Residents of Long-term Care Facilities The Importance of COVID-19 Vaccination for Healthcare Personnel
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim Recommendation for Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, December 2020 Early Release / December 13, 2020 / 69 Sara E. Oliver, MD1; Julia W. Gargano, PhD1; Mona …
Onsite Surveys of Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: March 23-May 30, 2020 (OEI-01-20-00430) States conducted onsite surveys at 31 percent of nursing homes during March 23-May 30, 2020; however, States varied significantly. During the …
Date: Tuesday, December 22 Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET Toll Free Dial-In: 833-614-0820 Access Passcode: 7979889 Overview: Please join CDC and CMS for this call with Nursing Homes focused …
Transforming the medication regimen review process using telemedicine to prevent adverse events AHRQ News Now: Kane‐Gill SL, Wong A, Culley CM, et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020;Epub Nov 25. Medication reconciliation and medication regimen reviews can reduce adverse drug …
The phone rings early one Saturday morning; it’s the night shift nurse calling to tell you that Mrs. Jones has a large bruise on her chest and staff does not know how it occurred. What …
Infection prevention and control considerations for residents of long-term care facilities with systemic signs and symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination Note: Strategies are needed by long-term care facilities to appropriately evaluate and manage post-vaccination signs and …
Infection prevention and control considerations for healthcare personnel with systemic signs and symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination Note: Strategies are needed for healthcare facilities to appropriately evaluate and manage post-vaccination signs and symptoms among healthcare personnel (HCP). …
HHS Proposes Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Empower Patients, Improve Coordinated Care, and Reduce Regulatory Burdens The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces …
Note that there will be a related update to the Five Star Technical User’s Guide by Jan. 15, 2021. Memo # QSO-21-06-NH Posting Date 2020-12-04 Fiscal Year 2021 Summary The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid …
These FAQs cover the following topics: 1. Q: CMS posts county positivity rates for staff testing. What if my state or county also posts rates of COVID-19 positivity for each county? 2. Q: Should nursing …
This includes four documents, one each for: record review, resident interview, resident observations, and resident representative interview. They walk through what the surveyors investigate/ask related to each care area during the initial pool to help …
Provider Matrix used in the Long-term Care Survey Process Effective Date: 11/21/20 Document/File Name Description of Change CMS-802 Includes suspected or confirmed COVID-19 under infections CMS-802 – Updated 11/25/2020 (PDF)
Jiménez-Pericás F, Gea Velázquez de Castro MT, Pastor-Valero M, et al. BMJ Open. 2020;10(10):e035238. Isolation for infection prevention and control, albeit necessary, may result in unintended consequences for patients (e.g., less attention, suboptimal documentation and communication, higher risk of preventable adverse …
This document contains practices that should be considered when SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses are found to be co-circulating based upon local public health surveillance data and testing at local healthcare facilities. Testing and Management Considerations …
The FDA has published Face Masks, Including Surgical Masks, and Respirators for COVID-19, a comprehensive new page on FDA.gov with answers to frequently asked questions about face masks, surgical masks, and respirators. The topics covered in …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing the first episode in a series of short podcasts for frontline nursing home staff “CMS Beyond the Policy”. This edition is titled “Nursing Home Series for Front …
The following CDC infection control training courses are part of the new States Targeting Reduction in Infections via Engagement (STRIVE) curriculum intended for the infection prevention team, hospital leaders, clinical educators, nurse and physician managers, environmental services …
This report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is available in PDF only (Evidence Summary [371.3 KB]; Report [5.9 MB]). People using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in these files. For additional assistance, …
Writing a plan of correction that will be accepted by the state survey agency is the first half of the battle to deal with any citations that the survey team hands out on the statement …
In advance of the approaching holiday season, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is urging nursing home staff, residents and visitors to follow established guidelines for visitation and adherence to the core principles …
Agency thanks nursing homes whose staff have completed free CMS training, but urges remaining homes to take advantage of this resource The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is publicly recognizing the 1,092 nursing …
Preparing for COVID-19 in Nursing Homes Updated Nov. 20, 2020 New Resources: CMS Alert Addressing Holiday Celebrations pdf Testing and Management Considerations for Nursing Home Residents with Acute Respiratory Illness Symptoms when SARS-CoV-2 and …
CMS will retire the original Compare Tools on December 1st. Use Medicare.gov’s Care Compare to find and compare health care providers. In early September, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Care Compare on Medicare.gov, …
Post-acute and Long-term Care Facility Toolkit: Influenza Vaccination among Healthcare Personnel Increasing Influenza Vaccination among Health Care Personnel in Long-term Care Settings Within this comprehensive toolkit are a number of resources intended to help long-term …
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cites lessons learned from its COVID-19 inspections and citations, as well as noting nursing homes and other companies that have been fined since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Lessons Learned: …
The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), recently announced plans to provide nursing homes with a Point of Care (POC) rapid response testing instrument to bolster each facility’s ability to …
A surveyor approaches the DNS and shares that the team is investigating an acquired pressure injury and preliminary findings suggest the facility has not met the requirements for F684, Quality Care. Unless the director of …
Respiratory Protection Guidance for the Employers of Those Working in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Other Long-Term Care Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic This guidance is designed specifically for nursing homes, assisted living, and other …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing a video tutorial to assist providers in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities and Skilled Nursing Facilities with standardized data assessment guidance and assessment strategies for the cognitive …
The TAKE Care kit is an evidence-based system of “first-line, non-pharmacological interventions” designed to help elderly patients with cognitive decline in multiple settings, including long-term care, who are having or are at risk of having …
Question: What is the required temperature of refrigerators in resident rooms? Answer: This requirement may differ from state to state, so I recommend you check with your local or state health department for your state’s …
NHSN Long-Term Care COVID-19 Module — CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) added a Point of Care Laboratory Reporting Pathway within the NHSN Long-Term Care COVID-19 Module. This added capability enables CMS-certified long-term care facilities to meet …
Asymptomatic and Presymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection Rates in a Multistate Sample of Skilled Nursing Facilities https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2771816
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AAPACN is developing several tools and resources to help LTPAC providers. The tools and resources available to date include: New Survey Binder Checklist: COVID-19 Focused Survey for Nursing Homes …
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AAPACN is developing several tools and resources to help LTPAC providers. The tools and resources available to date include: New Survey Binder Checklist: COVID-19 Focused Survey for Nursing Homes – This …
The MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual V14.0 has been posted. The MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual V14.0 contains detailed specifications for the MDS 3.0 quality measures and includes a Notable Changes section that summarizes the …
Memo # QSO-21-02-NH Posting Date 2020-10-05 Fiscal Year 2021 CMS QSO Memo: Compliance with Residents’ Rights Requirement Related to Nursing Home Residents’ Right to Vote Summary • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) …
Question: What are the new emergency preparedness testing exercise requirements? Answer: CMS regulations for Emergency Preparedness require specific testing exercises be conducted to validate the facility’s emergency program. During or after an actual emergency, the …
Memo # 20-08-ALL REVISED Posting Date 2020-10-16 Fiscal Year 2021 Summary • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be transitioning certain certification enrollment functions performed by the CMS locations (formerly CMS …
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) must issue a notice to Original Medicare (fee for service – FFS) beneficiaries in order to transfer potential financial liability before the SNF provides: an item or service that is usually paid for …
Press Release Date: September 29, 2020 The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is partnering with the University of New Mexico’s ECHO Institute in Albuquerque and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Boston …
The CASPER Reporting User’s Guide for MDS Providers provides information and instructions pertaining to the CASPER Reporting application. This system enables users to connect electronically to the National Reporting Database. This guide is intended for …
Note: The updated methodology is inside the updated spreadsheet for weekly county positivity rates: Rates of county positivity are posted here. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an update to the methodology the …
Memo # QSO-20-40-LSC Posting Date 2020-09-24 Fiscal Year 2020 Summary • CMS regulation requires compliance with the 2012 edition of the NFPA Health Care Facilities Code (NFPA 99) for Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Critical Access Hospitals, …
COVID-19: Considerations, Strategies, and Resources for Crisis Standards of Care in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care (PALTC) Facilities is a compilation of considerations for long-term care facilities based on lessons learned during the early months of …
The rate of nursing home complaints per 1,000 nursing home residents increased from 45 in 2015 to 52 in 2018. Twenty-one States failed to meet CMS’s timeliness threshold for the second-most serious level of complaints …
Surveyors arrive onsite for the annual survey and tour the facility. They overhear a nurse aide refer to a resident as “honey.” In the next room, they see a nurse completing a dressing change with …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that all nursing homes have an emergency preparedness program. With disasters ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to wildfires and hurricanes seemingly around every corner, taking the …
Feel overwhelmed by all of the reports available on CASPER? AADNS’s new Guide to Primary CASPER Reports for the Director of Nursing Services tool highlights the primary reports of interest to the director of nursing services …
Serial Testing for SARS-CoV-2 and Virus Whole Genome Sequencing Inform Infection Risk at Two Skilled Nursing Facilities with COVID-19 Outbreaks — Minnesota, April–June 2020 Summary What is already known about this topic? Facility-wide, serial testing …
CMS slide deck summarizing resident and staff testing and reporting requirements, considerations for using and interpreting antigen tests, and educational resources and training available to nursing homes. New COVID 19 Testing and Reporting Requirements (PDF) (9/8/20)
HHS’ Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response recently published Discharge Planning and Care Coordination during the COVID-19 Pandemic, a resource developed in partnership with ACL and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This tool is …
Question: What factors does nursing leadership in your facility review upon receiving an admission referral? Answer: There are a number of things that a DON must look at when reviewing a referral. Understanding what your …
