Regulatory Reminders: COVID Waiver Updates

There have been lots of questions swirling around related to the status of the remaining COVID-19 waivers that CMS has issues related to the ongoing Public Health Emergency (PHE), especially related to the 3-day stay waiver. There have been several updates recently that help answer these questions. Please download copies of the appropriate documents linked… Continue reading Regulatory Reminders: COVID Waiver Updates

SNF FY 2022 Proposed Rule – Learn the Facts Behind the Headlines Part 2: Don’t Forget About Your Wage Index!

Among the many required updates that CMS is mandated to make each year related to the SNF PPS rate, there is one pesky little number that often gets lost in the shuffle. That number is the wage index. The wage index is an adjustment to the SNF PPS rate that accounts for regional differences in… Continue reading SNF FY 2022 Proposed Rule – Learn the Facts Behind the Headlines Part 2: Don’t Forget About Your Wage Index!

SNF FY 2022 Proposed Rule – Learn the Facts Behind the Headlines Part 1

Today we start a blog series dedicated to unpacking the FY 2022 SNF PPS Proposed Rule that was released late in the day on April 8th. CMS has proposed many significant initiatives that will affect every aspect of Skilled Nursing Operations in the coming months and years to come. This first blog will address the… Continue reading SNF FY 2022 Proposed Rule – Learn the Facts Behind the Headlines Part 1

Regulatory Reminder

It’s been a while since we sent out the last Regulatory Reminder. As we have been preparing for our Reflections call today I downloaded a copy of the most recent (March) 5-Star preview report from CASPER and, to my surprise, there were a few important announcements that CMS conveyed using that format related to the… Continue reading Regulatory Reminder

The Power of the PDPM Primary Diagnosis

Since the inception of the PDPM, providers have grappled with the nuances of the new payment system in an effort to ensure that reimbursement accommodate the services that are provided to each resident. The challenge has been that the PDPM is nothing like the former RUG-IV system in which facilities were essentially paid for volume… Continue reading The Power of the PDPM Primary Diagnosis

Regulatory Reminder!

Well we are two weeks into a new year and there is no rest for the weary for sure. CMS has been busy and there have been several regulatory adjustments that have been announced to which we need to pay attention. This installment of Regulatory Reminders will focus on four updates that have been implemented… Continue reading Regulatory Reminder!

Regulatory Reminder

In the final days of 2020, CMS posted a list of Measures Under Consideration or MUCs. CMS is required by statute to do this every December as a pre rulemaking process. This pre rulemaking process provides CMS with the vehicle to hear from stakeholders for early consideration of measures.  It lists the measures that CMS… Continue reading Regulatory Reminder

Regulatory Reminder!

You may have been aware thorough our communication as well as other sources that CMS, earlier this year, indicated that due to the COVID waivers related to MDS submissions and Survey activity the 5-star rating related to both of these domains would be “frozen” until April 2022. Well, not so fast! Late Friday, CMS issues… Continue reading Regulatory Reminder!

5-Star Preview Reports are Here! Clarification to Reflections blog Q&A #4

We knew it was coming and it is here. CMS released the 5-Star preview reports yesterday and they can be downloaded from your CASPER folder in QIES. This data is what will be publicly reported on or around October 28th on the Nursing Home Compare and Care Compare websites. There are a few things to… Continue reading 5-Star Preview Reports are Here! Clarification to Reflections blog Q&A #4

SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) 2021 – Q&A

On October 15th, Broad River Rehab Reflections Provided a Webinar detailing the following as well as the anticipated October 2020 Nursing Home Compare/Care Compare refresh and new quality measures. What is the IMPACT Act? The Quality Reporting Program (QRP). A history of the current QRP measures. The 6 QRP measures new to NHC/Care Compare in… Continue reading SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) 2021 – Q&A