Post-Acute Advisor

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CMS revisions to CMPs aim to increase consistency

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a memo last week announcing revisions to how civil money penalties (CMPs) are imposed on facilities as a result of noncompliance. When noncompliance exists, enforcement remedies such as CMPs are intended to promote a swift return to substantial compliance for a sustained period of time, preventing future noncompliance.

“Novel solutions needed” for how clinicians selects patients for SNFs, according to investigation

Hospital clinicians’ evaluation and decision-making regarding which patients are discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) “may be characterized as rushed, without a clear system or framework,” according to a clinical investigation published by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Bill proposed that would pay seniors to write a will

A bipartisan bill was introduced to the House on July 11 that would pay older adults $75 to put together a living will.

Nurse lobbies for bill to end “dirty little secret of nursing”

Healthcare has always had an open door policy. Rarely are residents, patients or even visitors vetted before they enter the building, and nurses are often on the frontlines of greeting these new comers. While the indiscriminate nature of receiving care should be a good thing, in recent years, it has been tainted by what one nurse refers to as the “dirty little secret of nursing.”

More SNF volunteers needed for CMS PAC data collection study

Patient assessment data elements collected across PAC settings must be standardized, according to requirements mandated by the IMPACT Act.

Study confirms that older adults stay out of hospital when home health visits

A June 2017 study published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (JAMDA) concludes that patients discharged from skilled nursing facilities to the home who had a home visit to within a week of discharge had less of a chance for being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days.

NCAL offers new checklist for sexual consent among residents

The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) has created a checklist to help assisted living communities address issues regarding sexual consent among residents.

Other Post-Acute News

New in the July issue of PPS Alert for Long-Term Care: Eliminating alarms through culture change

Great strides have been taken in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities (SNF) to meet a nationwide movement to replace alarms with more individualized and proactive approaches to falls reduction in long-term care. In October, alarms will be added to Section P of the Minimum Data Set (MDS), requiring providers to not only continue their efforts but also document them for government inspection. While the negative ramifications of alarms have been confirmed (including diminished movement that can lead to increased incidences of incontinence, new or worsened pressure injuries, and reduced independence with ADLs), how to engage staff and effectively eliminate alarms remains a challenge. Experts who spoke with PPS Alert for Long-Term Care shared similar insights on the topic, including one in particular that sounds a familiar tune: It’s all about culture change.

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

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Upcoming CMS Events

Wednesday, July 19 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm ET - Assessing Your Ability to Support Patient Self-Management Webinar

Tuesday, July 25, 1:30 pm to 3 pm, ET - Revised Interpretive Guidelines for Nursing Homes and New Survey Process Call

Wednesday, July 26 from 2 pm to 3 pm, ET - ESRD QIP: Proposed Rule for Payment Year 2021 Listening Session

Wednesday, August 23, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, ET - Comparative Billing Report on Drugs of Abuse Testing Webinar

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