The Importance of Health Literacy in Nursing Homes with Joel VanEaton

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Joel VanEaton, BSN, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, executive vice president of PAC regulatory affairs and education for Broad River Rehab and an AAPACN Master Teacher, talk about health literacy and …

Care Compare January Refresh of SNF QRP Data Available (1/22)

The January 2022 refresh of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) data is now available on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC). The data are based on quality assessment data submitted by SNFs to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from Quarter 3, 2020 through Quarter 1, 2021 (3 …

Section GG Process Flow Chart Tool

The functional assessment coded in section GG often brings with it many questions— Should therapy complete this section? What type of documentation is needed? Can I use nurse aide documentation? How do we determine usual performance? The AAPACN Section GG Process Flow Chart will help your team establish a process …

How to Utilize Your Staff to Mentor and Fill Gaps in the MDS Department

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN is joined by AAPACN Master Teacher and Board Member, Maureen McCarthy, RN, BS RAC-MT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, RAC-MTA to discuss how leadership can often find potential nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) among …

Q&A: If hospital documentation supports a diagnosis of hip fracture as the initial encounter, do I need to query the physician for the subsequent encounter diagnosis to be used in the SNF?

Question: If a resident had a hospital stay for hip fracture repair, with no complications documented, and the hospital documentation supports a diagnosis of hip fracture as the initial encounter, do I need to query the physician for the subsequent encounter diagnosis to be used in the SNF? Answer: The …

Q&A: If a mechanically altered diet is being trialed during a speech therapy visit to facilitate oral intake, could K0510C, mechanically altered diet, be coded on the MDS?

Question: We are seeking clarification on MDS item K0510C, mechanically altered diet. If a resident is being trialed on a mechanically altered diet or given thickened liquids provided during a speech therapy visit to facilitate oral intake, could K0510C, mechanically altered diet, be coded on the MDS if it was …

TIP: CMS Will Begin Posting Staffing Data on the Care Compare Website

Weekend Staffing: The level of total nurse and registered nurse (RN) staffing on weekends provided by each nursing home over a quarter. Staff Turnover: The percent of nursing staff and number of administrators that stopped working at the nursing home over a 12-month period. This information will be added to …

Q&A: Has anyone encountered surveyors requesting consents for assist bars/enabler bars used for functional mobility not posing as a restraint per the interdisciplinary team assessment?

Question: Has anyone encountered surveyors requesting consents for assist bars/enabler bars used for functional mobility not posing as a restraint per the interdisciplinary team assessment? Answer by Carol Maher, RN-BC, CPC, RAC-MT : A restraint assessment should be done when there are rails or “assist bars” on the bed. Depending …

Q&A: Is there a waiting period to continue therapy services when a resident transitions from Medicare Part A to Medicare Part B therapy services?

Question: Is there a waiting period to continue therapy services when a resident transitions from Medicare Part A to Medicare Part B therapy services? Answer by Kim Steele RN, WCC, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA: There is no waiting period for this transition. However, therapy should complete an evaluation to transition from Medicare …

SNF VBP and SNF QRP MUC List Includes VBP Nursing Hours Measure (12/21)

The annual Measures Under Consideration (MUC) List from CMS includes four SNF VBP measures and two SNF QRP measures. 2021 MUC List (PDF) from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/QualityMeasures/Pre-Rulemaking See Appendix A for measure specifications. MUC ID Measure Title Description Measure Type Measure Steward CMS Program(s) MUC2021 -095 CoreQ: Short Stay Discharge Measure The …