On Friday, June 26, 2020, MLN Matters SE20011 was revised to add the section, “Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Benefit Period Waiver – Provider Information” and related billing instructions. All other information remains the same. You will definitely want to share this updated information with your billers. The updated information within … Read More
FAQs on nursing home visitation issued
CMS issued a 4-page Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Nursing Home Visitation guidance document on Wednesday afternoon, June 24, 2020 (this document is dated June 23rd). This is a 7-point document that includes responses to these questions: What steps should nursing homes take before reopening to visitors? The reopening recommendations … Read More
PBJ reporting waiver ends
CMS has ended the PBJ staffing data submission waiver included in the COVID-19 emergency blanket waiver. In a letter released June 25, CMS announced that facilities are once again required to submit their April–June PBJ data by the normal August 14 deadline. CMS also decided NOT to require the submission … Read More
Major organizational change to reduce provider and clinician burden and improve patient outcomes
On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, CMS announced the “creation of the Office of Burden Reduction and Health Informatics to unify the agency’s efforts to reduce regulatory and administrative burden and to further the goal of putting patients first. The new office is an outgrowth of the agency’s Patients over Paperwork … Read More
CMS-R-131 ABN form renewed
The ABN, Form CMS-R-131, and form instructions have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal. The use of the renewed form with the expiration date of 06/30/2023 will be mandatory on 8/31/2020. The ABN form and instructions may be found at: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-General-Information/BNI/ABN. The previous form … Read More