Nursing Center

COVID-19: Coverage of Physician Telehealth Services Provided to SNF Residents

CMS Updates, Nursing Center / August 4, 2020

The current COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) does not waive any requirements related to Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Consolidated Billing (CB). However, CMS added CPT codes 99441, 99442, and 99443, to the list of telehealth codes coverable under the waiver during the COVID-19 PHE. These codes designate three different time increments of telephone evaluation and …

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CMS Updates Medicare Payment Policies for Several Types of Healthcare Providers

CMS Updates, Coalitions, Nursing Center / August 3, 2020

Three final rules will strengthen Medicare program July 31, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is finalizing three Medicare payment rules that further advance our efforts to strengthen the Medicare program by better aligning payments for inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), skilled nursing facilities (SNF) and hospices. Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities IPF PPS …

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Bringing Attention to Health Equity for People with Disabilities

CMS Updates, Coalitions, Home Health, Nursing Center, Physician Office / August 3, 2020

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office (MMCO) is sharing messages and materials on supporting equal opportunities and inclusion for people with disabilities, many of whom are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. On July 26, 1990 the ADA was enacted to prohibit discrimination against …

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CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls: August 4-14

CMS Events, Coalitions, COVID-19 Events, Home Health, Nursing Center, Physician Office, Upcoming & Past Events / August 4, 2020

CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts. Call details …

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CMS Updates Data on COVID-19 Impacts on Medicare Beneficiaries

CMS Updates, Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Home Health, Nursing Center, Physician Office / July 28, 2020

On July 28, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its first monthly update of data that provides a snapshot of the impact of COVID-19 on the Medicare population. For the first time, the snapshot includes data for American Indian/Alaskan Native Medicare beneficiaries. The new data indicate that American Indian/Alaskan Native beneficiaries …

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OCR Issues Guidance on Civil Rights Protections Prohibiting Race, Color, and National Origin Discrimination During COVID-19

CMS Updates, Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center, Physician Office / July 21, 2020

Today, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is issuing guidance to ensure that recipients of federal financial assistance understand that they must comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in HHS-funded …

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CMS Announces Membership of Independent Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes

CMS Updates, Nursing Center / July 23, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the MITRE Corporation has published the membership of the independent Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes. CMS seeks an independent review and comprehensive assessment of the nursing home response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The agency tasked the contractor, MITRE, …

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COVID-19: Nursing Home Testing, SNF Benefit Period Waiver

CMS Updates, Nursing Center / July 17, 2020

MLN Matters Special Edition Article SE20011 Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is updated. Learn about: Updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for testing nursing home residents and patients Updated on applying the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) benefit period waiver

New England Town Hall on July 29: Substance Use & COVID-19: A Way Forward

CMS Events, Coalitions, Nursing Center, Patient Safety, Physician Office, Upcoming & Past Events / July 13, 2020

July 29, 2020 @ 2-3:30PM EDT The US. Department of Health & Human Services is pleased to invite you to a New England Virtual Town Hall with the U.S. Surgeon General, VADM Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH, entitled Substance Use and COVID-19: A Way Forward. This virtual, live New England Town Hall is designed to …

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CMS Announces Plans to End the Blanket Waiver Requiring Nursing Homes to Submit Staffing Data

CMS Updates, Nursing Center / June 25, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to end the emergency blanket waiver requiring all nursing homes to resume submitting staffing data through the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system by August 14, 2020. The PBJ system allows CMS to collect nursing home staffing information which impacts the quality of care residents receive. The …

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Medicare Coverage of COVID-19 Testing for Nursing Home Residents and Patients

CMS Updates, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center / June 22, 2020

June 19, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) instructed Medicare Administrative Contactors and notified Medicare Advantage plans to cover coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) laboratory tests for nursing home residents and patients. This instruction follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent update of COVID-19 testing guidelines for nursing homes …

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CMS Released Weekly Update of Nursing Home COVID-19 Data as of June 7, 2020

CMS Updates, Nursing Center / June 19, 2020

In case you missed it, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the second set of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nursing home data today. The data will be updated weekly going forward; for more information on nursing homes, including a link to the COVID-19 nursing home data, visit Nursing Home Compare. CMS also …

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National Nursing Home Training on June 18: Clinical Care: Managing COVID Positive Residents

Nursing Center, QIN-QIO Events, Upcoming & Past Events / July 8, 2020

Thursday, June 18, 2020 @ 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET The National Nursing Home Training Series is brought to you by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the QIO Program, a national network of Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs) serving every state and territory. This Week’s Topic: Clinical Care: Managing COVID …

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QIN-QIOs Partner with CMS to Create New COVID-19 Toolkit for Nursing Homes

CMS Updates, Nursing Center / June 10, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed a toolkit full of innovative solutions deployed at the state level to protect our nation’s vulnerable nursing home residents during the COVID-19 pandemic—all scouted and sourced by the IPRO QIN-QIO and other Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs) serving every state and territory. Governors, long term …

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Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspections Results Available on Nursing Home Compare

CMS Updates, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center / June 4, 2020

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is posting the first set of underlying coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nursing home data. On April 19, 2020, CMS announced the requirement that nursing homes to inform residents, their families, and their representatives of COVID-19 cases in their facilities. In addition to this, nursing homes are …

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Individualized Technical Assistance for Nursing Homes

COVID-19 Updates, IPRO QIN-QIO, Nursing Center / June 4, 2020

On June 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a statement on new infection control guidance for nursing homes. The statement describes enhanced accountability measures that come at a time when most organizations are weary from their COVID-19 pandemic efforts. CMS enlisted Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs), like the IPRO QIN-QIO, …

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CDC NHSN Special Circumstances

COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center, Patient Safety / July 6, 2020

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) continues to support the nation’s COVID-19 response for Long-Term Care Facilities. The NHSN Long-term Care Facility (LTCF) COVID-19 Module webpage has many resources outlining facility enrollment steps and live Q&A opportunities. However here are some specific instructions for unique situations: Your NHSN facility …

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Toolkit Connects Nursing Homes with Local Solutions to COVID-19 Crisis Care

COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center / June 4, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a new toolkit developed with QIN-QIOs to aid nursing homes, governors, state departments of health and other agencies who provide oversight and assistance to these facilities to aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic within nursing homes. The toolkit features best practices from a …

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Trump Administration Issues Guidance to Ensure States Have a Plan in Place to Safely Reopen Nursing Homes

CMS Updates, Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center / May 22, 2020

CMS announced new guidance for state and local officials to ensure the safe reopening of nursing homes across the country. The guidance released today is part of President Trump’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again. It details critical steps nursing homes and communities should take prior to relaxing restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of …

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Register for the webinar: Long-term Care Facilities’ Response to COVID-19

CMS Updates, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center / May 20, 2020

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 2-3pm EDT For May’s LTSS webinar, join UNITE (Uniting Tribal Nursing Homes in Excellence) in a panel discussion with nursing home and assisted living facility administrators. The panelists will share their experience in responding to COVID-19, including providing care, programming, and staffing. By the end of the webinar, participants will learn: …

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CMS Announces Independent Commission to Address Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes

CMS Updates, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center / May 20, 2020

Commission will comprehensively examine best practices in responding to COVID-19 in nursing homes As a part of President Trump’s Opening Up America Again effort, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new independent Commission that will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the nursing home response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. …

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COVID-19 Resource Guide

Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center, Patient Safety / May 22, 2020

The following guide is a compendium of resources related to COVID-19. These resources were identified by our quality improvement experts on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). These resources will help support your work in reducing COVID-19 cases and helping prevent new cases. Updated 4/20/20 Updated edition coming soon

CDC’s New PPE Educational Materials

Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center, Patient Safety, Physician Office / July 6, 2020

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) educational materials to be used as an aide when training healthcare personnel on selecting and correctly using; donning (putting on), doffing (taking off), and disposing of PPE to protect themselves from exposure to COVID-19 in the healthcare settings.   New COVID-19 …

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Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System Updates, Nursing Home Staff Counts, and FAQs

CMS Updates, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center / May 20, 2020

CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s nursing homes are prepared to respond to the threat of the COVID-19. Nursing Home Compare website & Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System: We are announcing that the inspection domain will be held constant temporarily due to the prioritization and suspension of certain surveys, …

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Infection Control FAQs

Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center, Patient Safety, Physician Office / July 6, 2020

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on infection control. This page was updated on April 23, 2020 to align with the revised Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings. Who is this for: Healthcare personnel who …

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Optimize PPE Supply

Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center, Patient Safety, Physician Office / July 6, 2020

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used every day by healthcare personnel (HCP) to protect themselves, patients, and others when providing care. PPE helps protect HCP from potentially infectious patients and materials, toxic medications, and other potentially dangerous substances used in healthcare delivery. PPE shortages are currently posing a tremendous challenge to the US healthcare system …

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CDC’s NHSN: Healthcare Worker and Supply Pathways

Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center, Patient Safety, Physician Office / July 6, 2020

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) continues to support the nation’s COVID-19 response and has released two additional data collection pathways in the COVID-19 Module found within the Patient Safety Component. In addition to the Patient Impact and Hospital Capacity Pathway, the Healthcare Worker Staffing Pathway and the …

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Infection Control Guidance

Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center, Patient Safety, Physician Office / July 6, 2020

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared interim infection control guidance. This guidance has been updated based on currently available information about COVID-19 and the current situation in the United States, which includes community transmission, infections identified in healthcare personnel (HCP), and shortages of facemasks, N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) (commonly known as …

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Return-to-Work Criteria for Health Care Professionals with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19

Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center, Patient Safety, Physician Office / July 6, 2020

Summary of Recent Changes as of April 13, 2020 Indicates a preference for use of the Test-based strategy to determine when HCP may return to work in healthcare settings Adds return to work criteria for HCP with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who have not had any symptoms Aligns with recommendations for universal source control for everyone in a …

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COVID-19 Preparedness Checklist for Nursing Homes and other Long-Term Care Settings

Coalitions, COVID-19 Updates, Nursing Center, Patient Safety / July 6, 2020

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities can take steps to assess and improve their preparedness for responding to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Each facility will need to adapt this checklist to meet its needs and circumstances based on differences among facilities (e.g., patient/resident characteristics, facility size, scope of services, hospital affiliation). This checklist should …

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