PRN Psychotropic Medications for Behaviors: Learn How to Document to Survive Survey

PRN Medication Use is one of the few sections of the revised F605 (Right to Be Free From Chemical Restraints/Unnecessary Psychotropic Medications) in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual that does not have changes that went into effect on April 28, 2025. However, the updated examples of F605 noncompliance …

Enhancing Resident Well-Being: A Nursing Leadership Approach to Sensory Impairments

Sensory impairments, such as loss of vision, hearing, taste, smell, or touch, are common among older adults, and significantly affect their quality of life. These impairments often go unnoticed or may be mistaken for cognitive decline, leading to missed opportunities for interventions, or worse, a decline in function. Residents with …

Appendix PP Updates: Admission, Transfer, and Discharge

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss the new Appendix PP updates related to admission, transfer, and discharge going into effect April 28, 2025. …

The Keys to Develop a Past Noncompliance Plan

The director of nursing services (DNS) received a call in the middle of the night that a resident with a diagnosis of dementia had eloped, and it appeared she had been missing for several hours—a conversation no DNS wants to have. She immediately enacted the missing resident protocol. Luckily, staff …

MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual V17.0 and Risk Adjustment Appendix

The Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Quality Measures (QM) User’s Manual Version (V)17.0 is now available. The MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual V17.0 contains detailed specifications for the MDS 3.0 QMs and includes a Notable Changes section that summarizes the major changes from MDS 3.0 QM User’s Manual V16.0. Changes …

NOMNC and DENC: New Forms Must Be Used Starting Jan. 1, 2025; Different Start Date for DENC Only for Medicare Advantage

FFS & MA NOMNC/DENC What’s New 11/18/2024: New NOMNC and DENC for Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage  The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved a revised Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage (NOMNC / CMS-10123) and Detailed Explanation of Non-Coverage (DENC / CMS-10124). Please note the updated NOMNC and DENC …

Why Getting MDS Right Is Non-Negotiable: The Importance of MDS Accuracy

Written by Kristine Martinez BSN, RN, RAC-CTA, QCP Completing a Minimum Data Set (MDS) correctly is no small task. With approximately 510 answers or choices on a comprehensive MDS (not including CAA investigation), and approximately530 answers or choices on a 5-day MDS, the potential for missed or miscoded information on any …

OIG: Nursing Facility Industry Segment-Specific Compliance Program Guidance

From https://oig.hhs.gov/compliance/nursing-facility-icpg/ The Nursing Facility ICPG—together with OIG’s General Compliance Program Guidance (GCPG) that applies to all individuals and entities involved in the health care industry—serves as OIG’s updated and centralized source of voluntary compliance program guidance for nursing facilities. Nursing facilities can use the ICPG to help identify their own risks and …

Sepsis Primer: What Is It, and How Does It Tie Into Survey and QMs?

Sepsis—a key driver of hospital readmissions—can have negative clinical impacts for residents and negative financial, quality, survey, and even legal impacts for nursing homes. Here is a review of important basics: What is sepsis? The current clinical definition of sepsis is “life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response …

Diabetes Management in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care: JAMDA Clinical Practice Guideline

The newly revised Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes Management in the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care (PALTC) Setting provides (1) new information on overall goals in diabetes care, (2) detailed information on how to use and manage medication alternatives , and (3) information on the roles of interdisciplinary team members in …