On Monday, CMS issued a memo titled, “Quality Measure Rating Threshold Changes with the April 2022 Refresh”. This memo indicated that CMS plans to change the QM rating thresholds every six months. This will begin in April of 2022. This probably seems like short notice for a change of this magnitude. Back in 2019, CMS… Continue reading Regulatory Reminder: CMS to update Quality Measure Ratings Thresholds!
Author: Joel VanEaton
State Health inspection Cut Point Levels: “How” and the “Why”? – Part 2
I love springtime. It is a time of renewal ,warm days and flowers blooming and often it is a time of new discoveries. Like the fact that I have discovered, that my lawn needs to be mowed and it’s only March. Last month we blogged on state cut points and the disparities between the states.… Continue reading State Health inspection Cut Point Levels: “How” and the “Why”? – Part 2
Georgia on my mind
I love Georgia peaches. In fact, I was lamenting that it was much too early for fresh peaches while at the GHCA winter convention a few weeks ago. (The peach cobbler was outstanding though.) The first bite of those famous southern summer peaches is a tasty treat. Recently, we have been biting into some pretty… Continue reading Georgia on my mind
State Health Inspection Cut Point Levels. The How and the Why?
Most days we read CMS regulation and we are not that surprised by what they print. We were given plenty of heads up related to PDPM. CMS has been mostly forthright about the COVID waivers. Generally speaking, the RAI User’s Manual is a consistent guide to completing the MDS. The State operations manual and survey… Continue reading State Health Inspection Cut Point Levels. The How and the Why?
Regulatory Reminder 5-Star: Update Part 2
Things are moving at a breakneck pace already and we are only just a few weeks into the new year. As we noted in our last update, CMS has decided to use Care Compare to publicly report weekend staffing hours and staff turnover. They have also indicated that these new measures will affect individual facility… Continue reading Regulatory Reminder 5-Star: Update Part 2
Regulatory Reminders!
It’s a new year and CMS is not wasting any time. Late Friday, 1/7/2022, CMS released memo QSO-22-08-NH. In this memo CMS has laid out their intentions to begin using PBJ data inform the public related to weekend staffing and staff turnover in 3 distinct ways. Public Posting on Care Compare CMS will begin posting… Continue reading Regulatory Reminders!
The FY 2022 SNF PPS Final Rule: Learn the Facts behind the headlines Part 4 – FY 2022 is here; What is the data telling us?
I am sure you have heard something like this, “we are living in unprecedented times”. Who would have imagined 2 years ago that we would face the demons of a global pandemic with all its implications and ramifications? It’s exhausting just thinking about the work that has been accomplished saving lives, caring for the isolated… Continue reading The FY 2022 SNF PPS Final Rule: Learn the Facts behind the headlines Part 4 – FY 2022 is here; What is the data telling us?
Extra! Extra! The 5-Star User’s Guide Has Been Revised! Who Knew?
Good Afternoon Everyone. FYI, CMS quietly posted a revised 5-Star User’s guide on October 27th. The new user’s guide is dated October 2021 and can be found at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/CertificationandComplianc/Downloads/usersguide.pdf There was one major change to table A related to the short stay claims based measure, “Rate of successful return to home and community from a… Continue reading Extra! Extra! The 5-Star User’s Guide Has Been Revised! Who Knew?
Public Health Emergency Extended through mid January!
A short Regulatory Reminder today. As has been the case since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 90 day intervals, the Department of Health and Human Services has once again renewed the determination that a Public Health Emergency (PHE) exists. See the text of the most recent renewal below. This renewal notice is dated October 18,… Continue reading Public Health Emergency Extended through mid January!
FY 2022 RAI Manual Updates? Yes Indeed!
Well, it’s FY 2022! And you thought here would be no changes to the RAI Manual this year. Think again! One has been made. Late last week CMS quietly posted the following announcement to the MDS 3.0 website. The PDF file labeled “MDS3.0RAIManualv1.17.1R.Errata.October.1.2021,” contains revisions to pages in Chapter 6 of the MDS 3.0 RAI… Continue reading FY 2022 RAI Manual Updates? Yes Indeed!