Federal and state officials have increased their focus on the problem, but ProPublica found 18 incidents in the last year in which employees at nursing homes and assisted living facilities posted unauthorized photos and videos of residents on social media platforms.

Hospice QRP provider preview reports: Three Days Left to Review Your Data!

From CMS: Hospice Provider Preview Reports for the Hospice Item Set (HIS) are now available. Hospice providers are encouraged to preview their quality measure results based on Quarter 4 of 2015 to Quarter 3 of 2016 data, prior to the inaugural release of Hospice Compare in summer 2017.

Other Post-Acute News

De-stressing distressed long-term care facilities: Challenges they currently face and solutions to help them thrive

External pressures such as lower reimbursement rates and an overall shift in policy by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and state Medicaid agencies, and internal pressures including higher acuity residents, operational decisions, and a competitive environment for residents and employees, have put significant financial and operational pressures on long-term care facility operators.

Pressing “refresh” on your activities program

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ latest revised Conditions of Participation place a stronger emphasis on person-centered care and resident preferences, a realm where activities serve as a core concept. However, current residents are more discerning than ever before and have different interests than they used to. Planning and designing new activities that fit diverse resident needs, all while keeping residents active and engaged, is a major challenge for long-term care professionals.

SNF therapy contracts: Your risks and what you need to know

The use of contracted therapists in your SNF immediately increases your citation and criminal risk in terms of billing and liability. These facilities must understand how to limit such risk under Medicare due to improper treatment and coding of your therapy contractor, including how to implement a shared risk arrangement with your therapy contractor while outlining a strategic way to monitor such risk within your SNF.

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.

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.

Upcoming CMS Events

Wednesday, July 2, 3:30 pm, ET - Quality Payment Program Year 2 Proposed Rule Listening Session

Wednesday, July 5 - Home Health, Hospice, and Durable Medical Equipment Open Door Forum

Wednesday, July 12, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm, ET - Creating and Verifying Your National Provider Identifier Call