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Issue 12, December 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Improve accuracy when coding active diagnoses

  Section I of the MDS 3.0 helps paint an accurate picture of a resident’s health status by...

• Figuring out Form 802: What's changed and why

  You can add one more adjustment to the list of industry changes in the past three months: Form...

• RUG-IV transition: The reimbursement impact

  The first two months of partially transitioning to Resource Utilization Group, Version Four...

• PPS Q&A

  Q. I am new to long-term care and am struggling to understand the Medicare Part A SNF coverage...

Issue 11, November 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Take the pain out of pain assessments

  It’s been one month since MDS 3.0 implementation and, believe it or not, the long-term care...

• Ready or not, the MDS 3.0 is here

  With a whoosh, a zoom, and what probably seems like a whack, MDS 3.0 has begun. You’ve been...

• The MDS 3.0 link: Care plan survey deficiencies

  In the past month, SNFs had an awful lot on their proverbial plate. With the implementation of the...

• PPS Q&A

  Q. Could you please clarify Medicare’s daily documentation requirements? For service-based...

Issue 10, October 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Master the MDS 3.0  transition options

  After years of anticipation and preparation, MDS 3.0 implementation is finally here. Although we...

• Surviving medical reviews: Manage your process

  Whether a stand-alone facility or part of a larger organization, it’s crucial for all SNFs to...

• Promote partnerships to improve resident safety

  As the long-term care industry moves toward a resident-centered model of care, many SNFs are...

• PPS Q&A

  Q. What should we do when a resident who is at risk for developing pressure ulcers refuses to be...

Issue 9, September 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Restraint reduction and correct coding tips

  Restraint use varies in nursing homes across the country. But thanks to various restraint reduction...

• Managing the difficult family: From adversary to advocate

  One of the greatest challenges in almost every long-term care facility is how to deal with...

• PPS Q&A

  Q. What is a denial of payment for new admissions (DPNA)? 

Issue 8, August 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Use unique interventions to reduce the risk of elopement

  Keeping residents safe is a top priority for SNFs, one that requires individualized interventions...

• Navigate new and improved therapy assessments

  The October implementation of the MDS 3.0 will be here before we know it, and educating staff...

• PPS Q&A

  We answer readers’ questions about the claim selection process for an audit and CERT findings.

Issue 7, July 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Stepping up to the culture change challenge

  In early 2009, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston transferred approximately 220 residents to...

• ADL updates: Get the details on Section G of the MDS 3.0

  The activities of daily living (ADL) are a critical component of resident care. They gauge the...

• Preparing your facility for an audit

  There has never been a time when the government has been more intent on reducing improper payments...

• PPS Q&A

  This month's PPS Q&A provides answers to readers' questions about competency management.  

Issue 6, June 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• SCSAs: Tips for correct completion

  Determining when a Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) is necessary and completing the...

• Master competency management in your facility

  Does it seem as though regulatory survey teams visit you every day? Sometimes the survey is...

• PPS Q&A

  We answers readers questions about motivating residents and providing restorative nursing to...

Issue 5, May 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• The Five-Star Quality Rating System: Improve your  staffing score

  Despite widespread opposition, it appears the Five-Star Quality Rating System is here to stay, so...

• Don't be left in the dark during the QI/QM blackout

  After the MDS 3.0 is implemented October 1, providers and surveyors will not have access to the...

• Seven steps to comply with the Red Flags Rule

  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will begin to enforce its Red Flags Rule June 1, so healthcare...

• PPS Q&A

  We answer readers’ questions about conducting resident interviews under the MDS 3.0.

Issue 4, April 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• MDS 3.0 Section M specifics: Tips to ensure correct coding

  Coding skin conditions in Section M of the MDS can be quite a challenge for SNFs, and the changes...

• Increase staff retention rates and improve quality of care

  Recent initiatives in the long-term care industry—such as the culture change movement...

• Say hello to 3.0: The new MDS' effect on billers

  The October 1 implementation of the MDS 3.0 will mean big changes for SNF and MDS coordinators will...

• PPS Q&A

  We answer readers’ questions about conducting a mock QIS survey and the meaning of the...

Issue 3, March 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Develop a blueprint for discharge planning

  As federal attention to preventable rehospitalizations increases, SNFs should ensure that their...

• Coding the new Section Q items

    At the initial admission assessment and in subsequent follow-up assessments (as...

• Requalifying for a Medicare Part A SNF benefit period

  Although the criteria an individual must meet to requalify for a new Medicare Part A SNF benefit...

• Use grace days for MDS scheduling success

  Although the PPS assessment schedule was designed to ensure that the proper Medicare reimbursement...

• PPS Q&A

  Q. What is the enforcement cycle for nursing home surveys?

Issue 2, February 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Individualizing resident activities: Take a team approach

  Although the current Interpretive Guidelines for F248, Activities, have been in place since June...

• Implement policies and procedures for a successful restorative nursing program

  Although meeting the requirements and MDS coding criteria is a good start to developing a...

• PPS Q&A

  Q. Identifying pain in residents can be a difficult task, especially when the resident suffers from...

Issue 1, January 1, 2010 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Navigate restorative nursing regulations and coding criteria

  Restorative nursing is a critical component to successfully individualizing long-term care...

• AAHSA unveils Idea House during annual exposition

  During the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging’s (AAHSA) Annual Meeting...

• PPS Q&A

  We answer readers’ questions about disaster plans and compliance with OSHA standards.