Research has found that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease have an elevated level of the protein called Abeta 42. Canadian neuroscientist Dr. Patrick McGeer and his wife, Dr. Edith McGeer, created a saliva test that can determine a person’s level of this protein, which according to McGeer and his team appears in the same elevated levels in someone who will have Alzheimer’s in the future as someone who already has the disease. The saliva test’s success is particularly important because it provides the opportunity to take early preventive measures, which the McGeers believe is in part a daily regimen of: ibuprofen. To satisfy requirements of the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act), CMS has contracted with RTI International and Abt Associates to develop quality measures for the transfer of health information and care preferences domain that may be used in post-acute care settings such as skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehab facilities, long-term care hospitals, and home health agencies. In a memo addressed to State Survey Agency Directors on March 16, CMS announced their collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to create an online training course in infection control and prevention for long-term care staff. This free course will be available in Spring 2019 and is intended to provide specialized training in infection prevention and control, along with a certificate of completion after the trainees have passed an online exam following the course. The training is expected to take 16 to 20 hours. For years, confusion has surrounded the conditions under which older adults can receive physical, occupational and speech therapy covered by Medicare. Services have been terminated for some seniors, such as those with severe cases of multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, because therapists said they weren’t making sufficient progress. Others, including individuals recovering from strokes or traumatic brain injuries, have been told that they reached an annual limit on services and didn’t qualify for further care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has contracted with RTI International to develop claims based quality measures for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP). We seek to supplement the existing HQRP measure set, which includes quality measures based on the Hospice Item Set (HIS) and the Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®), with measures that address additional identified gaps in hospice quality measurement without increasing burden to providers. Last week in the March issue of PPS Alert for Long-Term Care... Eight Medicare myths debunked for more accurate documentation To reduce your facility’s risk of unwanted outcomes and ensure proper Medicare reimbursement for the type and number of skilled services provided, it’s essential to submit claims appropriately and in accordance with CMS’ skilled services regulations. Make sure you're not missing out on Medicare reimbursement by familiarizing yourself and your staff with these eight Medicare myths. Not a subscriber? Sign up here. Monthly In-Service: March issue of CNA Training Advisor Dementia care: Nonpharmacological approaches to behavior management Click here to receive a new lesson plan every month, including course materials, a 4-page in-service, and a quiz targeted to address the unique needs, interests, and concerns of CNAs. Education and Training Tools Industry experts share case studies for interdepartmental collaboration Four key actions for protecting your residents from theft Budget Act of 2018: Leverage new opportunities for F2F, payment reform, and more This should be at the top of facilities’ priority lists QAPI: How to craft a robust, compliant performance improvement project | | Product Spotlight At HCPro, we help your organization make faster, better decisions by connecting your challenges and questions to an unrivaled network of experts, resources, and solutions. With a shared-cost membership, you can expect world-class thinking and advice without having to worry about the meter running or expensive consulting fees. An all-encompassing offering, PROPELAdvisory Services is available in six domains, with more on the way. Our growing family includes memberships in Medicare, long-term care, clinical documentation improvement, medical staff, coding, and revenue cycle management. Click here to learn more, or contact us at: 615-724-7213 | advisoryservices@hcpro.com |
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