The PDPM At-a-Glance tool breaks down the complex methodology of each component used in the Patient-Driven Payment Model—physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), speech-language pathology (SLP), non-therapy ancillaries (NTA), and nursing. This tool provides key payment information organized to provide the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) with quick access to understanding …
SNF QRP Data Collection and Final Submission Deadlines The SNF QRP Data Collection and Final Submission Deadlines have been updated to provide the data collection time frames and final submission deadlines for the FY 2028 SNF QRP. From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/snf-quality-reporting-program/submission-deadlines SNF QRP Data Elements Used for Reporting Assessment-Based QMs and Standardized Patient …
This file can be used by NACs to determine how ICD-10-CM codes entered on the MDS “map” to PDPM payment components. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/skilled-nursing-facility-snf/patient-driven-model
An update to the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document is now available. This document has been updated to reflect the finalized policies for the SNF QRP in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and includes other useful resources available to providers. From https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/snf-quality-reporting-program/faqs
Every month, AAPACN experts design tools that help our members perform their jobs with more ease, breaking down processes, synthesizing information, and aiding in ways to track required data. To help nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) easily find what they need fast, AAPACN has put together the following list of AAPACN …
In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss AAPACN’s latest education program, PDPM Documentation Essentials for the IDT. Additional Resources:
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The nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) plays an essential role in capturing a resident’s cognitive status by coordinating and coding the Staff Assessment for Mental Status in the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) remains the preferred approach. But in certain situations, staff observations must be …
The strict coding criteria for O0110M1, Isolation or quarantine for active infectious disease, requires precise documentation to support the MDS. AAPACN’s new Documentation Template: Isolation for Active Infectious Disease tool can help nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) educate nurses on the key areas of required documentation for residents in isolation. Want …
Effective Oct. 1, 2023, the full Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 will only be completed if the resident responds to the gateway PHQ-2 questions in a certain way. The Patient Health Questionnaire Completion Determination chart clarifies when to stop the PHQ after the PHQ-2, how to code the Total Severity Score, …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released unexpected changes in the final RAI User’s Manual, version 1.20.1, which goes into effect Oct. 1, 2025. The AAPACN MDS Changes At-a-Glance tool provides a high-level overview and key takeaways from the changes. This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual …
