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Issue 12, December 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• New legislation to promote standardization across PAC heralds major provider IMPACT

  The IMPACT Act carries standardized quality measures and assessment criteria for postacute care...

• Pick up the progress, not the pace: Enhancing patient-centered care in SNF therapy

  Therapy consultants weigh in on how to boost patient-centered care while contending with complex...

• New study shows escalation in nursing home infection rates

  Researchers found a staggering 48% increase in the prevalence of viral hepatitis between 2006 and...

• Dining improvements are no cakewalk: Providers confront challenges to kindle reforms

  Ignite culinary culture change without stirring the pot

Issue 11, November 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS' star rating system for nursing homes on shaky ground

  Experts divided over the validity of incendiary criticism and what needs to be done

• MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.12 now effective

  The latest manual version carries few weighty updates

• New dining practices 'meat and potatoes' of culture change for cutting-edge providers

  LTC providers are winning over residents, advocates, and surveyors alike with souped-up dining...

Issue 10, October 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Insurer-provider discord mounts over new HIPPS code requirement

  Insurers keep quiet about guidance for MAOs that, by extension, requires SNFs to provide HIPPS...

• CMS solidifies SNF payment rate increase in 2015 final rule

  CMS finalizes the 2% payment bump proposed in May, as well as a fix to COT OMRA policy

• CMS reshapes QIO program in newest scope of work

  CMS' 11th Statement of Work features a slimmed-down batch of contractors with quality and review...

Issue 9, September 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• New RAND report urges providers, policymakers to revitalize dementia long-term care

  Experts say that revamping insufficient care practices will become increasingly urgent as the...

• LTC facilities top sites for norovirus outbreaks, new CDC report shows

  Between 2009 and 2012, a staggering 80% of reported nonfoodborne norovirus outbreaks occurred in...

• New manual helps LTC providers combat elder financial exploitation

  A new offering from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau equips providers with strategies to...

Issue 8, August 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS pilots focused surveys to assess dementia care, MDS accuracy

  CMS has launched the pilot testing of two focused surveys evaluating practices, care planning, and...

• New MedPAC report advocates site-neutral payments for select conditions

  The recommendation has put SNF and IRF advocates at odds

• Improving staff interactions can have a positive impact on resident care

  A new study offers a list of 20 positive interaction strategies that can strengthen communication...

• New OSHA resource focuses on musculoskeletal injuries among nursing home staff

  A new brochure designed specifically for nursing homes addresses best practices to prevent back...

Issue 7, July 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS bumps up SNF payment rate increase in FY 2015 proposal

  Proposal includes another increase in overall payments to SNFs and corrects a misstep related to...

• New CMS pilots focus on dementia care, MDS 3.0 care planning

  Although using antipsychotics for dementia can be harmful, researchers say the current quality...

• Government report on Joplin tornadoes offers recommendations for nursing homes

  A report by the National Institute for Standards and Technology recommends building tornado...

• CMS memo relaxes previous requirements ­barring reprocessed SUDs

  Nursing homes may purchase reprocessed single-use devices from FDA-certified

• Benefits of nursing and therapy collaboration

  Editor's note: This article is a modified excerpt from the HCPro book SNF Nursing and Therapy...

Issue 6, June 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Can culture change lead to improved care in nursing homes?

  The term "culture change" has been tossed around healthcare for a number of years, and...

• Stay proactive during the delay

  ICD-10 delayed for the second time, this time through Congress Some last-minute language in a new...

• Improving your preadmission screening process for effective case management

  A thorough screening process sets the tone for determining appropriate resources for patient care...

• Tips on evidence-based practice in long-term care

  Editor's note: This article is a modified excerpt from the HCPro book Evidence-Based Practice in...

Issue 5, May 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Proposed reimbursement cuts for SNFs draw criticism from the field

  The White House proposes "accelerated" market basket cuts, which some say could be...

• New report highlights existing issues with nutrition among dementia residents

  A report from Alzheimer's Disease International focuses on the importance of proper nutrition for...

• OIG report reveals high rate of adverse events in SNFs

  If SNFs weren't already feeling the pressure from federal oversight committees, the Office of...

• Frustration and paperwork surround ADR requests

  Additional Documentation Requests (ADR) continue to be a source of frustration for many SNFs. The...

• Chronic wounds

  Editor's note: This article is a modified excerpt from the HCPro book Chronic Wounds: Providing...

Issue 4, April 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• OIG adds review of Part A claims to the 2014 long-term Care work plan ?

  The LTC industry can expect continued scrutiny regarding Medicare billing practices in 2014, as the...

• Severity of injuries makes fall prevention a priority?

  SNFs are all too familiar with the injuries that falls can cause among elderly residents, but the...

• New CDC website focuses on infection prevention?

  With CMS penalizing hospitals for preventable infections and patient safety organizations pushing...

• The licensed practical nurse?s leadership role?

  Editor?s note: The following excerpt was adapted from the HCPro book The Long-Term Care Licensed...

• ICD-10 coding Q&A?

  Editor?s note: The following Q&A was adapted from HCPro?s webcast "ICD-10 Coding and Documentation...

Issue 3, March 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS issues manual revisions in light of Jimmo v. Sebelius settlement

   CMS issues manual revisions in light of Jimmo v. Sebelius settlement

• CDC looks at the current state of the long-term care industry

   CDC looks at the current state of the long-term care industry

• CDC looks at the current state of long-term care

  Each day in 2012, there were nearly 1.4 million residents being cared for in nursing homes, a...

• CMS releases proposed emergency preparedness requirements

   CMS releases proposed emergency preparedness requirements

• CMS releases proposed emergency preparedness requirements

  In the last several years, a number of large-scale natural disasters have provided a glimpse at the...

• ICD-10 Coding Q&A

   ICD-10 Coding Q&A

• Flu season reference: Documenting influenza

  Editor's note: HCPro has a new book focusing on improving clinical documentation accuracy in...

• PPS Q&A

  Editor's note: This month's PPS Q&A was mod­ified from the HCPro book Finance, Budgeting...

• ICD-10 Coding Q&A

  The following Q&A was adapted from HCPro's ICD-10 Coding and Documentation for Long-Term Care...

Issue 2, February 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• OIG recommends new quality measure for LTC hospitalization rates

  It’s no secret that long-term care (LTC) facilities have been under increasing pressure to...

• Five target areas to reduce rehospitalizations

  From February 2013 through June 2013, PPS Alert launched a series of articles that looked at...

• Nurse practitioners in the SNF: What your facility should consider

   We know that nurse practitioners (NP) can be a valuable resource for staff and families, but...

• Factors to consider when WCA is required

  If your SNF is located in a state which requires a written collaborative agreement...

• PPS Q&A

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Issue 1, January 1, 2014 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS releases memo clarifying CPR policies in long-term care

  On October 18, CMS released a memo to state agency surveyors regarding CPR policies in nursing...

• Nursing homes are among the most dangerous places to work, according to new statistics

  Mining. Construction. Chemical manufacturing. All of these jobs that are perceived to be some of...

• A new report on antipsychotics calls for updated survey practices and more provider involvement

  Antipsychotic usage in the long-term care community has been a long-standing issue that only seems...

• MDS professor

  Test your knowledge of the MDS and long-term care by answering the following questions. To review...

• PPS Q&A

  Editor's note: This month's PPS Q&A was modified from the HCPro book The Big Book of Resident...