‘Audits are back,’ and COVID-19 care is in the hot seat
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 21, 2021
Flexibilities granted to providers during the ongoing public health emergency are likely to result in increased medical reviews and automated denials, a therapy billing specialist is warning.
Association offers blueprint for how LTC leaders can make federal staff vaccine policy work
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 23, 2021
Long-term care facility leaders’ response to President Joe Biden’s new vaccination order will help determine how staff react to the new mandate. Therefore, remaining calm and communicating well...
Nearly 1,200 ICD coding changes kick in Saturday
By
Joe Bush
Sep 30, 2022
Providers are trying to wrap their arms — and their software — around almost 1,200 ICD-10 coding updates that go into effect starting this weekend, including an “explosion of codes” related to...
New quality measure thresholds could lower providers’ star ratings, experts warn
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 28, 2022
Skilled nursing providers are worried they could see their star ratings drop following new changes to the quality measure rating threshold, according to a top expert.
CMS combing the data as it narrows PDPM adjustment targets
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 23, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has been monitoring and conducting “very comprehensive data analysis” to identify any trends or changes in provider behavior, payments and beneficiary care...
More knowledgeable nurse assessment coordinators needed, group says
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Sep 12, 2023
More than one-quarter of nurse assessment coordinators have limited on-the-job experience, potentially leaving providers at risk for survey deficiencies and leading to poorer health outcomes for facility...
Pressure mounting on CMS to exclude COVID vaccination data in quality reporting
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 18, 2021
More long-term care stakeholders are calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ditch its proposal to expand the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program to include staff COVID-19...