In a study of 52 long-term care facilities located in Nova Scotia, Canada, researchers found that their post-fall assessments (PFAs) were not effective in determining residents’ future fall risk due to their administrative nature and lack of evidence-based documentation. Hospices that received letters from CMS indicating they failed to meet the 2016 calendar year quality reporting requirements must act quickly if they decide to submit reconsideration requests. Long-term services and supports (LTSS) are for individuals who need help with everyday activities such as bathing, eating, or dressing. Currently, individuals needing these services total 50% of people over 65. An updated List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) Database file has been released by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG), including all OIG exclusions and reinstatements made through July 2017. Apria Healthcare, which makes home healthcare devices, has been ordered to pay $750,000 to resolve obligations that they billed patients that were already covered by MassHealth, Massachusetts’ state insurance program. Other Post-Acute News New in the August issue of PPS Alert for Long-Term Care: Individualized strategies for managing dysphagia The act of swallowing, for those who do not have difficulty with it, can feel like second nature. But when this ability starts to diminish—a common symptom of aging—affected individuals are forced into a world where things that are necessary to survive, such as food and water, pose potentially life-threatening challenges. Studies show that approximately 53%–74% of long-term care facility residents have dysphagia. How do I build a partnership with a managed care organization? Managed care organizations (MCO) are breaking new ground when it comes to controlling and reducing long-term healthcare costs, changing the way care is delivered in today’s skilled nursing facility (SNF). With the number of managed care beneficiaries increasing every year and continual changes in how care is administered and reimbursed, it’s essential that SNFs understand best practices for optimizing managed care partnerships to increase their revenue and avoid losing substantial sums of money. Critical thinking in home health: Skills to assess, analyze, and act Many home health nurses come with a lack of critical thinking experience. Industry experts collaborate to provide strategies to teach these individuals critical thinking skills, how to lead training during orientation, and how to apply it to the home health setting. 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! |
| SIGN UP | FORWARD | ADVERTISE | | | Upcoming CMS Events Wednesday, August 23, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, ET - Comparative Billing Report on Drugs of Abuse Testing Webinar Thursday, September 7, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, ET - Nursing Home Facility Assessment Tool and State Operations Manual Revisions Call: Dementia Care in Nursing Homes Thursday, September 21 - CMS SNF/Long-Term Care Open Door Forum Tuesday, September 26, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, ET - PQRS: Feedback Reports and Informal Review Process for PY 2016 Results Call: Physician Quality Reporting System |
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