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Post-Acute Advisor

Long-Term Care Quality Measures: A Guide to Data Analysis, Performance Improvement, and Public Reporting, coming soon!

 

Increasingly, we rely on data and data analysis to objectively view the quality of care delivered in our long-term care facilities. The data gathered and reported by the quality measures (QM) systems designed for long-term care are information-rich and provide guidance, direction, statistics, frequency, and monitoring of potential quality problems.

 

 

Revised 2017 CNS core competencies open for comment

 

On November 1, the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) opened the comment period to the public for the revised draft of the 2017 clinical nurse specialist (CNS) core competencies. Members of the public are encouraged to review and submit their comments before the period closes on January 8, 2018. The final 2017 core competencies are planned to be published by the fall of 2018.

 

 

This week: U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week

 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die as a direct result of these infections. As a key component of CDC’s efforts to improve antibiotic stewardship across multiple settings, including long-term care, this week, November 13-19, the annual U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week will be observed.

 

 

Under new guidelines, 80% of adults 65 and older will qualify for high blood pressure

 

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology issued a new guideline for high blood pressure, pushing the number of adults who qualify for this health risk factor from 75 million under the previous standard, to 103 million. High blood pressure is considered only second to smoking as a preventable cause of heart attacks and strokes, with heart disease in the lead as the biggest killer of Americans.

 

 

Hospice QRP: Quarterly update document now available

 

The HQRP Quarterly Update document for the third quarter (July-September) of 2017 is now available in the “Downloads” section of the HQRP Requirements and Best Practices webpage. This document was formerly referred to as the “HQRP Quarterly Q+A document”, and was formerly posted on the “Hospice Item Set (HIS)” webpage.

 

 

CMS offers new settlement option for appeals pending at OMHA and DAB

 

On November 3, 2017, CMS announced that they will offer an additional settlement option for providers and suppliers (appellants) with appeals pending at the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) and the Medicare Appeals Council (the Council) at the Departmental Appeals Board.

 

 

How to help Alzheimer’s patients enjoy life, not just ‘fade away’

 

This article has been republished with permission from the author, Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News.

 

Alzheimer’s disease has an unusual distinction: It’s the illness that Americans fear most — more than cancer, stroke or heart disease.

 

 

 

New in the November issue of PPS Alert for Long-Term Care:

 

A less alarming approach to preventing falls

 

Great strides have been taken in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities as part of a nationwide movement to replace alarms with more individualized and proactive approaches to falls reduction. In October, alarms were added to Section P of the Minimum Data Set (MDS), requiring providers to not only continue their falls reduction efforts but also document them for government inspection. Surveyors will be able to use MDS data to determine whether alarms are being used as intended—for resident safety, not staff convenience.

 

Not a subscriber? Sign up here.

 

Monthly Inservice: Medication Management

 

Click here to receive a new lesson plan every month, 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

 

What is your quality measures data telling customers about the care you deliver?

 

Today ends Antibiotic Awareness Week, but surveyor scrutiny is just beginning. Make sure your facility is prepared.

 

Get the tools to develop and maintain an ongoing quality improvement program through QM data analysis and strategies to anticipate surveyor scrutiny.

 

MDS changes are in effect. We have step-by-step guidance for accurate completion.

 
 

Product Spotlight

Skilled Nursing Facility Billing Boot Camp

 

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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Upcoming CMS Events

 

 

 

Tuesday, November 28, 2:00pm-3:00pm, ET - Special Open Door Forum: Revisions to DMEPOS Quality Standards for Therapeutic Shoe Inserts

 

 

Tuesday, December 5, 1:30pm-3:00pm, ET - Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Model Expansion Call

 

 

Thursday, December 14, 1:30pm-3:00pm, ET - National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and QAPI Call

 
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