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Billing Alert for Long-Term Care CNA Training Advisor: Lesson Plans for Busy Staff Trainers PPS Alert for Long-Term Care

Looking for a tool to make your job easier? PPS Alert for Long-Term Care, exclusively for the RN or MDS coordinator, is your survival guide for complying with PPS.
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Issue 12, December 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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CMS releases MDS 3.0 draft item set
Officials say new assessment will be implemented on schedule CMS released new MDS 3.0 information... -
Fluid status monitoring: A good program starts with CNAs
Empowering certified nursing assistants (CNA) to recognize and report early signs of dehydration... -
Improving care and process through technology
One organization’s successful software transition When United Methodist Homes began to roll... -
Finding the right consultant for your facility
If a consultant has ever given someone at your facility advice that didn’t seem right, you...
Issue 11, November 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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Make communication the key to successful care planning at your facility
When it comes to care planning, many facilities have mastered paper compliance, meaning their care... -
The 2009 SNF PPS rates for Medicare
CMS announced July 31 that Medicare payments to nursing homes would increase 3.4% in 2009, the... -
PPS Q&A
Rena R. Shephard answers questions about stamped physician signature, pressure ulcer staging... -
Focus on interviewing skills and working with vendors
Even though the particulars of the MDS 3.0 are still unknown, it’s not too early to start...
Issue 10, October 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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Keys to keeping PPS assessments on schedule
On the surface, keeping Medicare-required MDS assessments on track appears to be one of the easier... -
CMS finally clarifies default billing
With the August publication of the skilled nursing facility (SNF) PPS and consolidated billing... -
Learn the difference: Late vs. missed assessments
The skilled nursing facility (SNF) PPS and consolidated billing final rule for fiscal year 2009... -
Counting therapy minutes: Use a triple-check review to ensure accuracy
Even facilities that routinely review their therapy minutes and days prior to MDS submission can... -
PPS Q&A
Q. I forgot to set the assessment reference date (ARD) for the 60-day Medicare-required MDS...
Issue 9, September 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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RAP documentation: Achieve compliance
Tips to help MDS coordinators ensure adequate RAP documentation at their facilities. -
Working the RAPs successfully: A guide to the process
Working the resident assessment protocols (RAP) is a multistep process that requires the... -
Coding therapy on the MDS: Make sure minutes are coded accurately to avoid denials
The most recent report from the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) program points to a slight... -
PPS Q&A
Rena R. Shephard answers questions about billing Medicare Part A, coding IV fluids, and more.
Issue 8, August 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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CMS will add five-star ratings to Nursing Home Compare
This December, CMS will launch a five-star rating system on its Nursing Home Compare Web site to... -
'Better off dead' MDS 3.0 question troubles some MDS nurses
MDS coordinators recently expressed concern about the potential effect that the resident mood... -
Assess and individualize to code item M5c
The definition for MDS 2.0 item M5c, turning/repositioning program, on p. 3-157 of the RAI User's... -
The RAPs: What they can do for you
Editor's note: This is the first article in a two-part series on the resident assessment protocols... -
PPS Q&A
Editor's note: "PPS Q&A" is written by Rena R. Shephard, MHA, RN, RAC-MT, C-NE, founding chair and...
Issue 7, July 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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The key to Medicare meeting success lies in the agenda and advance prep
Editor's note: This is the second article in a two-part series on Medicare meetings that reviews... -
Take these steps for timely, accurate quarterlies
Barring significant change in status or discharge, the basic OBRA cycle of MDS assessments is as... -
PPS Q&A
Editor's note: "PPS Q&A" is written by Rena R. Shephard, MHA, RN, RAC-MT, C-NE, founding chair and...
Issue 6, June 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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The admission MDS: Avoid common mistakes
The OBRA assessment schedule must be followed for all residents of Medicare-certified skilled... -
Look into CMS' crystal ball
CMS took some of the mystery out of its plans for nursing homes, releasing the 34-page 2008 Action... -
Medicare meetings from the ground up
Editor's note: This is the first article in a two-part series on Medicare meetings that examines... -
PPS Q&A
Editor's note: "PPS Q&A" is written by Rena R. Shephard, MHA, RN, RAC-MT, C-NE, founding chair and...
Issue 5, May 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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Take the first step toward transition: Start using MDS 3.0 interviews
The first page of the January 15 revised draft MDS 3.0 states: [I]tems that will appear in the... -
Stage II of the QIS focuses on in-depth review
Editor's note: This second article in a two-part series on the quality indicator survey (QIS...
Issue 4, April 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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Restorative nursing: Tips for a well-run program
More nursing homes are recognizing that restorative nursing (i.e., nursing rehabilitation) programs... -
Quality indicator survey rollout picks up speed
Editor's note: Part one of this two-part series reviews the current status of the quality indicator... -
SNF ABN to be implemented by September 1
Change was the watchword for the February Skilled Nursing Facility/Long-Term Care Open Door Forum... -
PPS Q&A
Editor's note: "PPS Q&A" is written by Rena R. Shephard, MHA, RN, FACDONA, RAC-CT, founding chair...
Issue 3, March 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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MDS 3.0: Get up to date on planned changes
CMS and its primary MDS 3.0 validation contractor, Santa Monica, CA-based RAND Corporation recently... -
Common Part A benefit period myths debunked
A benefit period is a mechanism for measuring the use of hospital insurance benefits, known as... -
PPS Q&A
Editor's note: "PPS Q&A" is written by Rena R. Shephard, MHA, RN, FACDONA, RAC-CT, founding chair...
Issue 2, February 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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Get the most out of your state RAI coordinator
The state resident assessment instrument (RAI) coordinator is an important resource available to... -
CMS issues January 2008 RAI manual update
As it has done several times in the past, CMS slipped a last-minute goody into the nursing home... -
LOAs: Are you restarting the PPS MDS schedule unnecessarily?
At the October 2007 Skilled Nursing Facility/Long-Term Care Open Door Forum, a caller raised the... -
PPS Q&A
Editor's note: "PPS Q&A" is written by Rena R. Shephard, MHA, RN, FACDONA, RAC-CT, founding chair...
Issue 1, January 1, 2008 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE
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What exactly is a SNF? The answer affects spell of illness benefit periods
There is a common misconception that a skilled nursing facility (SNF) is always defined as a... -
Is billing office pressure getting to be too much?
MDS coordinators face mounting pressure from their facility business office to complete and... -
Follow these MDS coding tips for your CPS score
Editor's note: This article is the second in a two-part series about the Cognitive Performance... -
PPS Q&A
"PPS Q&A" is written by Rena R. Shephard, MHA, RN, FACDONA, RAC-CT, founding chair and executive...