The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a memo last week announcing revisions to how civil money penalties (CMPs) are imposed on facilities as a result of noncompliance. When noncompliance exists, enforcement remedies such as CMPs are intended to promote a swift return to substantial compliance for a sustained period of time, preventing future noncompliance. Hospital clinicians’ evaluation and decision-making regarding which patients are discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) “may be characterized as rushed, without a clear system or framework,” according to a clinical investigation published by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. A bipartisan bill was introduced to the House on July 11 that would pay older adults $75 to put together a living will. Healthcare has always had an open door policy. Rarely are residents, patients or even visitors vetted before they enter the building, and nurses are often on the frontlines of greeting these new comers. While the indiscriminate nature of receiving care should be a good thing, in recent years, it has been tainted by what one nurse refers to as the “dirty little secret of nursing.” Patient assessment data elements collected across PAC settings must be standardized, according to requirements mandated by the IMPACT Act. A June 2017 study published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (JAMDA) concludes that patients discharged from skilled nursing facilities to the home who had a home visit to within a week of discharge had less of a chance for being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) has created a checklist to help assisted living communities address issues regarding sexual consent among residents. Other Post-Acute News New in the July issue of PPS Alert for Long-Term Care: Eliminating alarms through culture change Great strides have been taken in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities (SNF) to meet a nationwide movement to replace alarms with more individualized and proactive approaches to falls reduction in long-term care. In October, alarms will be added to Section P of the Minimum Data Set (MDS), requiring providers to not only continue their efforts but also document them for government inspection. While the negative ramifications of alarms have been confirmed (including diminished movement that can lead to increased incidences of incontinence, new or worsened pressure injuries, and reduced independence with ADLs), how to engage staff and effectively eliminate alarms remains a challenge. Experts who spoke with PPS Alert for Long-Term Care shared similar insights on the topic, including one in particular that sounds a familiar tune: It’s all about culture change. 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. Preparedness and response to an active shooter event is the key to survival—and survival is no accident. In today’s rapidly changing environment, no organization is immune from violence. It’s an unfortunate truth, but one that facilities should keep in mind as they revise their emergency preparedness plans to be compliant with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new standard before surveys begin in November. Those plans likely include policies and procedures for natural disasters, cyberattacks, and disease outbreaks—but what about an active shooter event? Putting the pressure on pressure injury prevention Pressure injuries and documentation are often among the most frequently cited survey deficiencies, and wound care is the subject of continuous research. Most recently, in April 2016, the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) approved revisions to its Pressure Injury Staging System. | | Product Spotlight 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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