When the rules change, not everyone wins: Counting IC deficiencies in Five-Star
By
Steven Littlehale
Feb 05, 2021
Do you remember how, as you were growing up, there was always another kid who would change the rules mid-game to ensure that he won? I do, and it would always make my blood boil. The Centers for Medicare...
It’s time to fix the skilled nursing survey process
By
Jeff Petty
Jun 10, 2008
We all know that the annual survey process for skilled nursing facilities needs to be changed. But are we willing to go the distance to do it?
Do you know your P’s and Q’s of QAPI?
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 21, 2013
The Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement system from CMS is on our doorsteps. As facilities have been training and educating themselves, the new QIS (Quality Indicator Surveys) are ready to roll....
A former surveyor tells THE key to getting good star ratings
By
Leslie Mahoney, RN, BSN
May 14, 2018
Until the State Operations Manual becomes the quintessential tool for regulatory compliance, a 5-star rating will be out of reach for skilled nursing providers. It’s as simple as that.
Upon further inspection, part of the CMS visitation guidance stinks
By
Neville M. Bilimoria
Mar 20, 2021
There is unfortunate irony in a provision of the new CMS nursing home visitation guidance.
Lower the risk and deter elopement
By
Betty Norman
Feb 10, 2017
The single most cited F-tag in a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services survey is F-323 in regards to resident safety and supervision.
The new world of compliance under COVID-19
By
Steven Littlehale
Jul 19, 2020
With so many “cooks in the kitchen,” trying to direct pandemic response actions, by whose authority should we be taking action and direction?
The inherent bias in the Five-Star System
By
Jeff Petty
Sep 19, 2012
The Five-Star System has a systematic and profound bias that favors smaller facilities and penalizes larger facilities.
5 key factors for patient satisfaction success
By
Ryan Sparks
Nov 01, 2019
During a recent public meeting, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) proposed a new program that would expand the value-based impact on payments for post-acute care providers. According...
Cracking the code to seven years of Five-Star ratings success
By
Steven Littlehale
Sep 19, 2016
Since the inception of the Five-Star Quality Rating program in December 2008, there have been 113 Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) that have earned and maintained an overall 5-star score. Who are these...