CMS just posted two (2) September 2020 updates to MDS reporting guides: MDS 3.0 Provider User’s Guide_Section 5: Error Messages CASPER Reporting MDS Provider User’s Guide CASPER Reporting MDS Provider User’s Guide_Section 11: MDS Quality Measure Reports CASPER Reporting MDS Provider User’s Guide_Section 13: SNF Quality Reporting Program The MDS … Read More
Confidential dry run reports for SNF healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) requiring hospitalizations measure now available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would like to announce the Confidential Dry Run Reports containing FY 2018 and FY 2019 performance scores for the Skilled Nursing Facility Healthcare-Associated Infections Requiring Hospitalizations measure (SNF HAI measure) are now available. Performance scores are based on the draft measure specifications posted … Read More
RAI manual appendix B updated
CMS updated Appendix B of the RAI User’s Manual on September 24, 2020. In addition to the listing of the state Coordinators and other key players*, CMS provided a Changes to Appendix B, September 2020 Update document. I’ve not seen such a document before – it’s a welcome addition so … Read More
Shortages of staff in NHs during the COVID-19 pandemic (study)
Shortages of Staff in Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic … What are the Driving Factors? is an interesting study that “examines the prevalence and factors associated with shortages of NH staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary analysis included all free-standing NHs with COVID-19 information in the week of … Read More
CMS updates county data for COVID-19 testing weekly now
On Monday, September 21, 2020, AHCA/NCAL posted a blog entitled CMS to Update County Data for COVID-19 Testing Weekly and Allow Use of State or County Data in Updated Methodology (underlining added by me to emphasize CMS changes): “The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has updated the Excel file that flags COVID-19 positive … Read More