During their SNF/LTC Open Door Forum call yesterday, CMS announced that, although the comment period for an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) published in May officially closed this August after receiving more than 200 comments, the agency encourages providers to continue submitting feedback. Agencies can breathe a deep sigh of relief. CMS won’t launch its drastically revised home health payment model after all. Has your facility recently found success implementing a new EHR system? We want to hear about it! Therapy caps were first established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and limit the amount of therapy services a beneficiary can receive in a year, regardless of their condition. Did you know that Medicare covers a wide range of health care services that can be provided in the home to treat an illness or injury for homebound beneficiaries who require skilled services? In addition, hospice care empowers people with life-limiting illnesses to remain at home, surrounded and supported by family and loved ones. Stress can have a huge impact on nurses’ health and lead to burnout in both their professional and personal lives. A study of 120 nurses in a Midwestern hospital published in Nursing Research and Practice showed that in general, the participating nurses were not healthy, with 92% experiencing moderate-to-very high stress levels. Between 2013 and 2015, researchers interviewed more than 11,000 residents living in Kansas nursing homes that promoted person-centered care practices. The interview questions were split up into four topics: quality of life, quality of care, quality of services, and global satisfaction subdomains. The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) QRP deadline has been extended to May 15, 2018 for CY 2017 data. However, SNFs are encouraged to review their data submission on at least a quarterly basis. New in the November issue of PPS Alert for Long-Term Care: Freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation: Training your staff to be resident advocates Customer service in long-term care facilities involves two key aspects: properly educating families about the realities of living in a skilled nursing facility, and handling adverse events appropriately. Not a subscriber? Sign up here. Monthly Inservice: Medication Management Click here to receive this monthly lesson plan, including course materials, a 4-page in-service, and a quiz targeted to address the unique needs, interests, and concerns of CNAs. Survey: Education and Training Tools Is your antibiotic stewardship program survey ready? Deadline November 28 QAPI: CMS to begin surveying QAPI plans this month Staff competencies: What is the best method to ensure your staff are performing their duties correctly? MDS changes are in effect. We have step-by-step guidance for accurate completion. | | 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! |
| SIGN UP | FORWARD | ADVERTISE | | | Upcoming CMS Events Wednesday, November 8, 2:00pm, ET - CMS Long-Term Services and Supports Open Door Forum Thursday, November 9, 2:00pm-3:00pm, ET - New Medicare Card Project Special Open Door Forum Thursday, November 16, 1:30pm-3:00pm, ET - SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program FY2018 Final Rule Call Thursday, December 14, 1:30pm-3:00pm, ET - National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and QAPI Call |
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