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MDS Alert

Pressure Ulcers:
What 'Present On Admission' Really Means
Learn how to apply for the On-Time Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program.  Coding Ite... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Pay Attention To The New Version Of CAT Specs
Learn how the new triggering conditions differ from the old ones. The Centers for Medi... Read more
Quality:
Get Ready For These Nursing Home Quality Trends In 2016
And more regulatory revelations for the coming year. Industry experts agree: scrutiny ... Read more
Surveys:
Utilize Surveyor Tools To Avoid Dementia Care-Related F-309 Citations
Find out what specific practices surveyors are scrutinizing. If you want to know how s... Read more
Tool:
Use This Self-Questionnaire To Prepare For A Dementia Care Survey
Surveyors focus on individualized, person-centered care in this audit. The surveyor to... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Watch For New Cross-Setting Discharge-to-Community QM
Care transitions and discharge planning have been emerging as new hot topics in the qual... Read more
SNFs:
Does Your Therapy Match Your Documentation? The OIG Is Watching
Follow 3 golden rules to safeguard your therapy billing. The HHS Office of Inspector G... Read more
Data Reporting:
PBJ Voluntary Period: Seize This Opportunity To Test Your Payroll System
Find out what reports you can access before mandatory reporting begins. The Payroll-Ba... Read more
Section J:
Make Your J1100 Coding A Breath Of Fresh Air
Beware that sometimes you’ll need to check multiple sub-items here. You can&rsqu... Read more
Reimbursement:
Understand 9 Specific Items That Earn A Special Care High RUG
How a higher RUG classification could lurk behind UTI diagnosis. Do you know what crit... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: What’s the proper way to document respite care in the MDS 3.0? Answe... Read more
Compliance:
Prepare Now For Medication Adverse Events-Focused Audits
Find out what surveyors are searching for during these pilot surveys. An emerging hot ... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Heads Up: CMS Posts New Draft MDS 3.0 Item Sets & Data Specs
Where you can find the October 2016 draft docs. You can now get a sneak peek at the dr... Read more
RAI Manual:
Take A Closer Look At 6 Important Chapter 2 RAI Updates
Understand when you now must do an SCSA for hospice residents. With no new items and n... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Heed These Other RAI Manual Revisions: ICD-10, Pressure Ulcers & More
Are you coding healed pressure ulcers correctly? Although most of the significant chan... Read more
SNFs:
Watch Out: Your Therapy Billing Is Way Too High, OIG Says
You may soon see big changes to SOT, EOT and COT assessments. You may soon face increa... Read more
Heed 4 Quick Expert Tips For Billing Therapy Over The Cap
Don’t wait until the second progress report to reevaluate medical necessity. The... Read more
Toolkit:
Action Guide: Intensify Your Antibiotic Stewardship Activities
Partner up for stewardship, because it ‘takes a village’ to improve antibiot... Read more
Industry News to Use:
You Now Have A Choice Between Text & XML Format Final Validation Reports
Plus: Senators ask GAO to investigate 5-Star Quality Rating System. Certification and ... Read more
Quality:
Get Ready Now For New PBJ Electronic Staffing Data Submission
Know how to spot ‘direct care staff’ according to CMS’s definition. ... Read more
Watch For New Proposed Competency-Based Staffing Requirements
CMS wants your facility to provide mandatory staff training topics. Although currently... Read more
Section O:
Don't Fudge Your Count Of O0700 Days To Boost RUG Classification
Make sure your O0600 coding is also accurate to avoid survey issues. If you’re u... Read more
Toolkit:
Quick-Reference Chart: Match F-Tags With MDS Sections
Pay attention to citations relating to Chapters 2 and 4 as well. With the MDS-focused ... Read more
Section N:
Avoid Making 8 Common Mistakes When Coding Medications
Remember to include insulin injections in N0300, not only in N0350. Mounting scrutiny ... Read more
Section D:
Are You Coding Residents' Mood Accurately & Effectively?
Get over your reservations about asking residents the tough questions. With the new de... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Look For Reformatted RAI Manual Pages & Revised QMs
Know how your flu vaccine measures are changing. The Centers for Medicare & Medica... Read more
Quality Reporting:
Get Ready To Report On 3 New PAC Cross-Setting Quality Measures
Function measure spurs brand-new MDS section, too. Since last year, the Centers for Me... Read more
MDS 3.0:
How To Code New MDS Section GG Items -- A Primer
Find out what the revised Section A for discharges looks like. Big changes are taking ... Read more
SNFs:
Lessons From The Battlefield: What To Expect From The MDS-Focused Surveys
Learn how your staffing sheets could land you in hot water. The MDS-Focused Surveys ar... Read more
Falls:
Dig Deeper: Improve Your J1900 Coding To Avoid Quality Reporting Snafus
Beware that all resulting injuries may not occur within the look-back period. Between ... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Don't Miss 3 Other Important Changes In The SNF PPS Final Rule
Expect a boost in your payment rate for FY 2016. The three new standardized post-acute... Read more
Section H:
Don't Flush Away Your Urinary Incontinence Coding
Code this way even if the toileting trial doesn’t span entire look-back period. ... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Put Final Validation Reports To Work For You
Learn how to find missing validation reports, too. If you’re relying on your sof... Read more
Tool:
Employ This Decision-Making Tool For Urinary Incontinence Solutions
You have more options than you think for assisting with dementia residents’ toilet... Read more
Section I:
Take 5 Steps To Smooth Your Transition To ICD-10
Check out newly revised ICD-10 educational materials. The looming implementation deadl... Read more
Antipsychotics:
Heed Expert Tips For Proper Antipsychotic Medication Coding
Make sure you’re coding medications received, even outside your facility. With a... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: Can I code barrier cream, A&D Ointment, and/or Eucerin cream or lotion i... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Get Ready For Sweeping Changes To LTC Regulations
Plus: NPUAP criticizes ‘hand check method’ for bottoming out. You could s... Read more
Section A:
Reduce Logic-Check Warning Messages With Proper Admission Coding
Why Item A1900 is giving many providers headaches. If you’re getting logic check... Read more
Section M:
Make Sure Your Turning/Repositioning Program Meets Surveyors' Expectations
Heed the RAI Manual’s instructions when coding M1200C. You can employ a myriad o... Read more
Quality:
Upcoming Rulemaking: Prepare Now For Heavy Quality- Measure Scrutiny
Proposed rule will slash your reimbursement if you don’t report on these quality i... Read more
Medicare:
Big Mistake: Are You Disenrolling Beneficiaries From MMPs & MA Plans?
Take 2 crucial steps to keep state surveyors at bay. If your facility is disenrolling ... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: One of our resident’s takes Neurontin twice daily for neuropathic pain... Read more
Tool:
Mini-Checklist: Get Your MDS Signatures & Completion Dates In Order
Don’t forget about other clinicians’ signatures, too. One sure-fire way to... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Is Your Star Rating Related To Your Facility's Size?
Plus: Your Q4 FY 2014 PEPPER is available now. Non-profit nursing homes are nabbing hi... Read more
Reimbursement:
What The New SNF Quality Reporting Program Has In Store For You
How your hospital readmission rates could soon affect your incentive payments. As all ... Read more
Surveys:
Prepare Now: What To Expect From The MDS-Focused Surveys
You must provide a plethora of data, just in the first hour of the surveyor’s visi... Read more
Form:
Can You Fill Out This MDS-Focused Survey Worksheet In 1 Hour?
Worksheet is just one document of many that CMS requires from you. The new MDS-Focused... Read more
Care Quality:
Brace Yourself For Focused Dementia Care Survey In Your State
Few facilities escaped the pilot surveys without deficiency citations. As if you didn&... Read more
Section H:
Don't Let 4 Coding Conventions For Bowel/Bladder Appliances Trip You Up
Mistake: Intermittent catheterization does not include straight catheter for urine sampl... Read more
Section G:
Learn From 5 Section G Tips To Advance Your ADL Coding
Don’t include these functional factors when coding items. When it comes to codin... Read more
Assessments:
Clear Up Your Confusion Over SCSAs & Hospice Services
Know when you need to complete only the Admission assessment. In most cases, you will ... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Stop Sending ABNs To Residents Exceeding The Therapy Cap
Plus: CMS is tweaking the PPS Part A Discharge item set. Because the recently-passed l... Read more
CAAs:
Heed Expert Tips To Improve Your Care Planning
Learn the right way to care plan from this example. If you keep your care planning pro... Read more
Section I:
Make Your Final Preparations For October's ICD-10 Transition
How coding of aftercare and ‘late effects’ will change drastically. Ready ... Read more
Identify Specific Care Plan Considerations By MDS Section
Tip: Individualize resident’s care plan for incontinence — don’t use a... Read more
Toolkit:
Quiz: Is Your Facility Ready For ICD-10?
Know whether your September 2015 claims should contain ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes. Do you r... Read more
Quality of Care:
Understand How CMS Will Collect Your Staffing Data
New PBJ system created to submit staffing and census information. Get ready for your s... Read more
Industry News to Use:
What The SGR Repeal Means For Your Facility
Plus: Prevent these citations when facing an MDS-focused survey. On April 14, the U... Read more
Chapter 4:
Follow 5 Steps To Perfect Your CAA Process & Care Planning
Understand exactly what your CAA Summary should include. Many MDS Coordinators don&rsq... Read more
Quality:
Don't Be Surprised If You Lost Valuable Quality Stars
Why you should concentrate on antipsychotic use to regain stars.  If your skilled... Read more
Assessments:
Brush Up On The Proper Use Of 'Grace Days' - 12 Reminders
How completing an SCSA with a scheduled assessment impacts your RUG-IV ARD. “Gra... Read more
SNFs:
Monitor New CMS Webpages for Crucial IMPACT Act Info
Find out which quality measure domains are under consideration for standardization. Th... Read more
Pressure Ulcers:
Employ Nutritional Strategies To Combat Pressure Ulcers
Don’t forget about sufficient fluid intake, too. The fact that nutrition is cruc... Read more
Toolkit:
Use This New Tool To Encourage Better Communication About Falls
Handout includes specific tips for residents to prevent falls. Reducing the risk of fa... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: The resident’s last therapy date was Feb. 21. Medicare ended on Feb. 2... Read more
Section A:
Official Guidance: Finally, CMS Gives You Clarification On Entry/Reentry Coding
‘Reentry’ definition gets a makeover, A1600–A1900 coding tips get reva... Read more
Learn Correct A1600 — A1900 Coding From 4 New Examples
Understand when A1600 and A1900 stay the same or change. The much-needed clarification... Read more
Watch For 2 Revised Figures In RAI Manual Changes
Table no longer mentions Medicare PPS Readmission/Return assessment. In addition to al... Read more
Care Quality:
Brace Yourself: Your Quality Ratings Could Take A Nosedive
Also, you now have 2 new quality measures to report on. The Centers for Medicare &... Read more
Reimbursement:
SNFs: Focus On 10 Reimbursement Issues In 2015
Ask yourself these questions to gauge your facility’s costly compliance risk. Ho... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Look Out: MMRs Resume Immediately For Part B Therapy
Plus: Why MedPAC wants the SNF PPS to change drastically. If you have Medicare residen... Read more
Section A:
3 Examples Illustrate A1600 & A1900 Coding Interplay
Also, don’t pay for CMS’ mistake in its guidance for A1700 coding. If you&... Read more
Reimbursement:
How To Perfect Documentation and Set Goals For Maintenance Therapy
Use these examples to inspire maintenance goals for therapy. Now that you’re no ... Read more
Section O:
Improve Your O0300 Coding With These Expert Tips
Coding doesn’t exclude different types of pneumococcal vaccine. Do you know the ... Read more
Tool:
Use This Cheat-Sheet To Know When Your Coding Flags Care Planning
How coding these items in certain ways may (or may not) become care area triggers. Whe... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question: When I submit a PPS assessment record to the QIES ASAP system, I’m recei... Read more
Remember 'Bump's Law' When Care Planning
Keep 4 questions in mind to provide person-centered care. Linda Bump, MPH, RD, LD, LNH... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Here's Your Therapy Cap Value For 2015
Plus: Enjoy more time to respond to prepayment review ADRs. On Nov. 14, the Centers fo... Read more
In Other News
You’ll Soon Have An Extra 15 Days To Respond To ADRs Good news: The Centers for ... Read more
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