Less than a week before most of the revised Home Health Conditions of Participation (CoPs) were set to take effect, CMS officially delayed their effective date by six months. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released revised interpretive guidelines to clarify existing requirements and provide guidance for Phase 2 of the new survey process, which includes requirements such as antibiotic stewardship, facility assessment, and QAPI. [Sponsored] As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve and change, competition amongst post-acute providers is also rising. This is leading to the challenge of addressing new regulations and changing patient preferences. Download this free white paper to learn more. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule (CMS-1675-P) that would update the Medicare hospice wage index, and cap amount for fiscal year (FY) 2018. The proposed rule was published on April 27, 2017. As proposed, hospices would see an estimated 1.0 percent ($180 million) increase in Medicare payments for FY 2018. Post your open jobs in front of the most qualified group of professionals within our industry on HCPro's Career Center. 25% off any product when you use coupon code: QualityCandidates Clostridium difficile or C. diff is a deadly, treatment-resistant infection. For the first time in decades, data shared by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that the rate of C. diff has dropped, with a 9 to 15% decrease reported in incidences of C. diff in healthcare settings, including hospitals and nursing homes. B-Shoe Technologies based in Haifa, Israel is currently working on a product that, if successful, is expected to reduce falls in seniors: A shoe that can sense and automatically correct imbalance in every step. Other Post-Acute News New in the July issue of PPS Alert for Long-Term Care: Medicare proposes changes to payment rates and quality programs for SNFs in FY 2018 In a proposed rule published on April 27, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed several new policies for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Value-Based Purchasing Program (VBP) and the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP). Specifically, proposed changes to these programs include added incentives under the SNF VBP as well as new quality measures to be reported under the SNF QRP. Master OASIS-C2: Minimize productivity losses and comply with new guidance OASIS-C2 is the single biggest regulatory change that is decreasing clinicians’ productivity in 2017, according to a recent DecisionHealth survey. New questions that were added for OASIS-C2 slow clinicians down, contributing to longer visits and documentation time; what’s more, incorrect OASIS answers also impact episode payments and outcome scores. Stop the productivity drain and ensure your outcome scores are accurate. Preparedness and response to an active shooter event is the key to survival—and survival is no accident. In today’s rapidly changing environment, no organization is immune from violence. It’s an unfortunate truth, but one that facilities should keep in mind as they revise their emergency preparedness plans to be compliant with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new standard before surveys begin in November. Those plans likely include policies and procedures for natural disasters, cyberattacks, and disease outbreaks—but what about an active shooter event? Putting the pressure on pressure injury prevention Pressure injuries and documentation are often among the most frequently cited survey deficiencies, and wound care is the subject of continuous research. Most recently, in April 2016, the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) approved revisions to its Pressure Injury Staging System. | | Product Spotlight Skilled Nursing Facility Billing Boot Camp provides hands-on, how-to education focusing on billing for Medicare Part A and B, the ins and outs of consolidated billing, accurately completing the UB-04. Plus, guidance on understanding the SNF coverage criteria and a breakdown of the different beneficiary notices. Attendees will be able to return to their facility with the tools they need to understand the latest billing and reimbursement regulations, plus how to navigate the many billing processes to ensure their SNF is receiving appropriate reimbursement for services provided. Billers Association Members (BAM) save 10% off the registration fee! |
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