CMS has posted the most recent October 26, 2020 COVID-19 positivity rates – by county. The rates are found in this Excel spreadsheet. Open the spreadsheet then locate your state and county. Remember that you are required to test staff and residents based on the current positivity rate in your county. QSO-20-38-NH is … Read More
RAI User’s Manual – Appendix B – updated again
Appendix B of the RAI User’s Manual was updated again. This Appendix is updated periodically when specific changes are made to state and regional offices: State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, RAI Panel members and Regional Office contacts. This update is advance-dated October 29, 2020. Changes to Appendix B, October 2020 Update is … Read More
Breaking news: Incentive payments to nursing homes curbing COVID-19 deaths and infections
Just a few minutes ago, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced it will distribute approximately $333 million in first round performance payments to over 10,000 nursing homes. These nursing homes are being recognized for demonstrating significant reductions in … Read More
State and local governments: nursing home closures are your next emergency
I’m passing along an op-ed published in my home state’s Des Moines Register on Sunday, October 25, 2020. Consider the author’s comments as food for thought. You’ll want to read the entire article. I’m providing some excerpts to tweak your interest: The American Health Care Association reports that 72% of … Read More
Moving nursing homes forward: the future is now
I encourage you to read and share Dr. Michael Wasserman’s October 26, 2020 Guest Column in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. It is well worth the read! Dr. Wasserman ends his column with this: “Nursing homes desperately need strong medical leadership in an engaged and competent medical director, actively involved director … Read More