Tips from AAPACN
Stay up-to-date and informed by reviewing the latest tips from AAPACN. Our experts will keep you updated with the latest news from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other news sources. Want access to all the tips from AAPACN? Learn more about AAPACN and AAPACN membership.
- TIP: The COVID-19 PHE Ended – Tools and ResourcesThe end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023, has marked the end of many waivers, including the 3-day qualifying hospital stay and benefit period waivers. For many new nurse assessment …
- TIP: CMS Releases Final Rule Lifting Vaccine Requirements for Healthcare PersonnelThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule on May 31, 2023, withdrawing the federal requirement of COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare personnel (HCP). Although the requirement is being lifted, CMS continues …
- TIP: New ABN Form Must Be Used by June 30, 2023In April 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) form, CMS-R-131. This ABN form is used when Medicare Part B services end and a beneficiary notice …
- TIP: CMS Changes Two COVID-19-Related QSO MemosThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made changes to two COVID-19-related QSO memos recently. QSO-20-38-NH, which provided guidance related to COVID-19 testing, expired on May 11, 2023, with the end of the COVID-19 …
- TIP: SNFs Still Must Use Condition Code DR After the COVID-19 PHE EndsThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clarified on a recent MLN Connects newsletter that skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) must continue to use the condition code DR (disaster related) on Medicare Part A claims …
- TIP: CMS Released Updated Guidance for the Expiration of the COVID-19 PHEThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new memo outlining the changes that will occur with the ending of the public health emergency (PHE) on May 12, 2023. Areas include: AAPACN recommends …
- TIP: CMS Released Updated FAQ on the End of the COVID-19 PHEIn late April, CMS updated the resource “Frequently Asked Questions: CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.” This document addresses key questions regarding billing for vaccines, Medicare coverage, the 3-day …
- TIP: CMS Releases Optional State Assessment (OSA) Item Set and ManualOn April 24, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the Optional State Assessment (OSA) Item Set, OSA Manual, and OSA Change History table in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set …
- TIP: CMS Clarified End of COVID-19 Waivers Impact on 30-Day Transfer RuleAAPACN received clarifying information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) related to the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and how residents covered under Medicare Part A using the 3-day …
- TIP: CMS 2023 Quality Conference in MayThe 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 …
- TIP: New Enhanced Enforcement Actions from CMS for Infection Control DeficienciesThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO-23-10-NH on March 30, 2023, listing new enhanced enforcements for facilities receiving deficiencies in F880 and F887. These new enforcements include remedies such as directed plans …
- TIP: The End of the COVID-19 PHE Impact on a Skilled StayOn March 2, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted a Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum. During the call, a CMS official clarified the answer to a question …
- TIP: Telligen QI Connect Releases a Facilitators Guide to Root Cause Analysis (RCA)The Quality Improvement Organization (QIO), Telligen QI Connect, has developed a new facilitators guide to assist with root cause analysis (RCA). This guide outlines the process to conduct an RCA including steps to prepare and …
- TIP: CMS Answers iQIES Question on Change in OwnershipThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials answered a question regarding the ability to submit MDS assessments in the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) if a change in ownership occurs after …
- TIP: COVID-19 PHE Ends on May 11, 2023Due to the trends of decreasing COVID-19 daily reported cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. The conclusion …
- TIP: CMS Announces MDS Submission Transition to iQIES April 2023CMS announced that the transition of MDS assessment submission and reporting to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) will occur on Monday, April 17, 2023. Nursing facilities currently use the QIES Assessment Submission …
- TIP: CMS Outlines How the End of the COVID-19 PHE Will Impact Medicare BeneficiariesThe Biden Administration recently announced the end of national COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declarations and extensions, which will occur on May 11, 2023. On page 125 of the COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service …
- TIP: CDC Updates NHSN HCP and Resident COVID-19 Vaccination Module DocumentationThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated the instructions for reporting person-level vaccination data via the Person-Level Vaccination Forms. Providers who are required to submit their data to the Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination …
- TIP: CDC Releases New Webinar Recording and Tools Regarding Enhanced Barrier PrecautionsThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new resources to assist providers with the implementation of enhanced barrier precautions. These resources include the continuing education (CE) webinar recording and slides from Nov. …
- TIP: BFCC-QIO’s Updated Notification Process for New Appeals Started January 17Starting on Jan. 17, 2023, post-acute care facilities and Medicare health plans will no longer receive phone calls for appeal notifications. The initial notification, medical record requests, and case outcomes for post-acute care facilities and …
- TIP: CMS Releases QSO Memo with Updates to Care Compare and Quality Measure RatingsThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a memo last week containing updates to Care Compare and Quality Measure ratings. These changes include: CMS will consider a lesser action to the star ratings …
- TIP: Audit for Accurate Schizophrenia Diagnosis CodingCMS recently released a memo stating they will begin conducting an off-site audit of MDS coding of residents with a diagnosis of schizophrenia to ensure accuracy, and based upon the results, the quality measure (QM) …
- TIP: ICD-10 Coding Convention “with”When using the Alphabetical Index in the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, generally the main terms and subterms are alphabetical. However, when the word “with” is immediately after a main term or subterm, …
- TIP: CMS Releases Draft Minimum Data Set 3.0 Item SetsThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated draft of the new MDS 3.0 Item Sets on Dec. 23, 2022. This newest draft includes changes to the following: Because there are multiple …
- TIP: CDC’s Core Practices Now Available on Infection Control WebpageThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Safe Healthcare Delivery in All Settings, also known as Core Practices, are now available on CDC’s Infection Control webpage. These …
- TIP: OBRA Scheduling Tools Updated for 2023AAPACN offers two great tools to assist nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) in scheduling OBRA assessments:• The Static OBRA Scheduling Tool is a 4-page tool that counts out day 92 for every calendar day – know when that …
- TIP: COVID-19 Vaccination and Therapeutics Toolkit Now AvailableThe Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (AMDA) has developed a new toolkit with their partners. This free toolkit provides resources for clinicians to help them navigate challenging questions. This toolkit includes: For permission …
- TIP: Quality Improvement Organization Offers Training LibraryFor nursing facilities in 29 states, Kepro serves as the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO). Kepro provides education for healthcare providers to help ensure that appeals are performed quickly and that potential errors …
- TIP: IPRO QIN-QIO Hosts Free Streaming Nursing Home Education SummitIPRO QIN-QIO will be having a free day of online learning on December 8 at 9 am – 3pm ET to share the latest updates on topics to advance quality and address needs such as: …
- TIP: CMS Posts iQIES Job AidThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the transition from the current QIES ASAP database to the web-based iQIES in early 2023. All providers must have a security official approved by CMS …
- TIP: CMS Revises Guidance for COVID-19 Staff Vaccination RequirementsThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revised guidance regarding COVID-19 staff vaccination requirements. This revision combines previous memos QSO-22-07-ALL, QSO-22-09-ALL, and QSO-22-11-ALL.CMS defines noncompliance of this requirement as a “rate of less than …
- TIP: Get Ready for the iQIES Transition As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) move toward the rollout of iQIES for nursing facilities in early 2023, the first step requires each facility to select a security official. The facility selected …
- TIP: CMS Updates Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination ReportingThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (HCP) measure to start collecting data during the 2022-2023 influenza season (October 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023). CMS …
- TIP: New Revisions to SFF Program and Influenza Data ReportingWhite House Announces More Aggressive Enforcement Actions for SFF On Oct. 22, 2022, the White House announced an enaction of “more aggressive enforcement” actions to strengthen the accountability for the Special Focus Facilities (SFF). These …
- TIP: CDC Updates Infection Control Guidance for COVID-19The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has replaced the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes with the new Infection Control Guidance and it applies to “all …
- TIP: CMS Posts Several Updated SNF QRP DocumentsThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted updated versions of the following Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) documents: The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 SNF QRP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) …
- TIP: New CDC Resources Available to Assist with Sepsis EducationThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed some new resources to assist with educating staff, residents, and families regarding sepsis along with updated graphics to use in the facility or on social …
- TIP: CMS Posts Draft MDS Comprehensive (NC) Item Set for Oct. 1, 2023The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) Nursing Home Comprehensive (NC) Item Set version 1.18.11 is now available. CMS plans to release the final version of the MDS Item Sets later in 2022, which will be effective beginning …
- TIP: CDC Updates Influenza and Pneumonia Vaccine GuidanceThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its updated guidance for the 2022-2023 flu season. There are three recommended adjuvanted, or high-dose, vaccines available for adults 65 years and older and include: Quadrivalent …
- TIP: CMS Provides More Information on the iQIES Security OfficialCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced onboarding training for facility security officials for the iQIES. CMS posted the following materials to improve understanding of the onboarding process and a job aid for …
- TIP: Transition to iQIES Will Require a Security OfficialThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be transitioning nursing homes to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) in the coming months. This system consolidates and replaces the Quality Improvement and …
- TIP: CMS Announces Rollout for iQIES for Nursing FacilitiesOn the Aug. 4, 2022, Skilled Nursing Facility Open Door Forum, officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the beginning of a training rollout for the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation …
- TIP: ASHP Releases New Guidelines to Prevent Substance DiversionThe American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has released new guidelines on preventing substance diversion in healthcare settings such as nursing homes. These guidelines provide a framework facilities can follow to reduce patient safety issues, …
- TIP: CMS Clarifies Schizophrenia Diagnosis Coding on the MDSIn mid-July, CMS posted the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual (v1.17.1R) Errata (v2) which provided clarification on the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) mapping for skin problems to the feet for the nontherapy ancillary component and …
- TIP: CDC Releases Updated Guidance for Use of PPE in Nursing HomesThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released updated guidance for the implementation of PPE use in nursing homes to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infections. This updated guidance includes: Additional …
- TIP: SNF QRP Provider Preview Reports AvailableThe Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports, which contain the performance scores of the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) measures, were released in late July. These measures will be publicly reported on Care Compare …
- TIP: CMS Now Includes New Staffing Measures in Five-Star RatingThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is including four new measures in the Five-Star staffing rating system methodology with the July 2022 Refresh. The new measures include: Total nurse staffing hours per resident …
- TIP: CMS Releases Revised Long-Term Care Surveyor GuidanceOn June 29, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released significant revisions to the State Operators Manual (SOM), which surveyors will use to identify noncompliance starting on Oct. 24, 2022. While revisions in several …
- TIP: AHRQ Seeks Nursing Homes to Participate in Pilot Study for Workplace SafetyThe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is developing a survey item set to assist nursing homes to identify and improve workplace safety. They are currently seeking nursing homes to participate in the pilot …
- TIP: CMS Releases Updated PBJ ManualThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the updated Version 2.6 Electronic Staffing Data Submission Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) Long-Term Care Facility Policy Manual in June 2022. The update reinforces CMS’s message to validate …
- TIP: CMS Will Begin Posting Staffing Data on the Care Compare WebsiteWeekend 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 …
- TIP: New Resource to Improve Healthcare SafetyLucian Leap just released a new book called Making Healthcare Safe. This free, downloadable book discusses ways a skilled nursing facility can implement a culture of safety by changing processes, working conditions, and communication in …
- TIP: Learning Timeline for AAPACN Education and ResourcesAre you considering advancing your career and looking to gain knowledge to be successful in your next role? Or are you already in the position you love but looking to improve your knowledge for additional …
- TIP: AAPACN Curriculum Development Specialist, Denise Winzeler, Contributed to CDC White Paper with LTC/PAC WorkgroupThe Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) is a federal advisory committee chartered to provide advice and guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Secretary of the Department of …
- TIP: CMS Scheduled Care Compare Refresh with Revised Discharge to Community Measure DataThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) discovered an error in the calculations for the Discharge to Community measure and will be updating the Care Compare website with the corrected data on Sept. 29, …
- TIP: AHRQ Toolkit to Improve Antibiotic Use in Long-Term CareThe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a toolkit to assist facilities with antibiotic stewardship. This toolkit focuses on three critical areas: Developing and improving a facility’s antibiotic stewardship program Creating a …
- TIP: AAPACN 2020 Conference – New Dates and FormatThe AAPACN 2020 Conference has been rescheduled for June 3-5, 2020, and will be held virtually. Learn more. If you registered for the ICD-10 or RAC-CT Recertification preconference workshop, they will proceed virtually with live …
- TIP: Claims Must Use New Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MDIs) Starting Jan. 1, 2020CMS announced in a Medicare Learning Network newsletter that if the facility does not use the Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) on claims after Jan. 1, 2020, rejection codes will be received: Electronic claims reject codes: …