News

CDC Published Updated COVID-19 Guidance

On May 8, 2023 by Kari Everson

Updated from original content posted on Monday, May 8

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. The CDC updated sections on recommendations for universal source control and admission testing and added an appendix section to help organizations determine when to implement broader use of source control. In response to the CDC guidance release, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an update to QSO 20-39-NH REVISED, essentially adopting the CDC guidance.

Vaccination Mandate Ends and Other Information from CMS

On May 4, 2023 by Kari Everson

On May 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published QSO-23-13-ALL. The document provides nursing homes with an update regarding the end of the public health emergency (PHE) and how it impacts regulatory blanket waivers and interim final rules (IFR).

Ownership and Additional Disclosable Party Information on LTC “Providers and Suppliers”

On April 27, 2023 by Mark Schulz

On May 1, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will publish an Information Collection Request (ICR), a request for public comment on a specific topic, as part of a proposed rule about revising the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system.

Understanding Biden’s Executive Order and Federal Rulemaking

On April 27, 2023 by Mark Schulz

Executive orders are a tool to direct action to set policy guidance and for an administration’s executive branch agencies.  President Biden’s executive order released last week provided several topics and concepts for different federal agencies to effectuate.  You can read the analysis of the executive order here. 

Resources to Transition Your Temporary Nurse Aides

On April 20, 2023 by Anna Mowry

Temporary nurse aides hired or who worked under the 1135 waiver now have until Sept. 11 to be on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry. LeadingAge Minnesota is here to help providers with this transition process.

Several Updates to SNF Quality Reporting Program in Proposed PPS Rule

On April 20, 2023 by Julie Apold

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its 2024 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule. It includes several proposed SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) changes. 

QSO Updates Enforcement for Infection Control Citations

On April 6, 2023 by Kari Everson

On March 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO-23-10-NH, which rescinds QSO-20-31-NH and provides updated guidance on enforcement for infection control non-compliance. As a result, enforcement actions are more severe than before when cited under F880 and/or F887.

Without Addressing Staffing Mandate, CMS Updates SNF Rates in Proposed PPS Rule

On April 6, 2023 by Jeff Bostic

Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the annual proposed rule that updates the Prospective Payment System (PPS) rates for care centers. The rule calls for an update in the rates starting Oct. 1, which averages 3.7%.

Safe Care Addresses CMS Focus on Patient Safety

On March 23, 2023 by Julie Apold

During National Patient Safety Awareness Week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) highlighted their renewed focus on patient safety because harm is still too common and often preventable in a blog published on its website. Progress in patient safety has significantly declined since the beginning of the pandemic erasing previous patient safety gains.

Employee Retention Credit Will Not Impact Care Center Rates

On March 16, 2023 by Jeff Bostic

Earlier this week, Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office informed LeadingAge that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will tell states with cost-based care center payment systems like Minnesota’s to treat Employee Retention Credit (ERC) funds like other federal CARES Act relief funds.

HCBS Settings Rule Implementation Deadline Is Here

On March 9, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry

The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule became effective on March 17, 2014, with transition activities underway since that time. Due to covid delays, the date for full compliance is March 17.

PHE Ending – What it means for Nursing Homes

On February 23, 2023 by Mark Schulz

Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) held its routine National Nursing Home Stakeholder Call. During this call, CMS staff reiterated several vital facts about the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE).

US Senators Send Letter to CMS on Minimum Staffing Standards

On February 16, 2023 by Mark Schulz

On Feb. 10, US Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Bob Casey (DFL-PA) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (DFL-OR) sent a multi-member letter to CMS regarding upcoming regulations to create a minimum staffing standard.

CMS Proposes New NH Disclosures Rule

On February 16, 2023 by Mark Schulz

Continuing with its desire to strengthen its ability to examine nursing home ownership types, including private equity and real estate investment trusts, on Feb. 13, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule to gather such data.

CMS Requires SAs to Implement Investigation Timelines

On February 16, 2023 by Mark Schulz

On Feb. 10, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Admin Info memoranda 23-06-NH revising guidance to Chapter 5 of the State Operations Manual (SOM).  The memo’s revisions include changes to the maximum timeframes for state survey agency (SA) investigations into complaints and facility-reported incidents, and the expansion of SA’s data entry requirements into the federal ASPEN Complaints/Incidents Tracking System (ACTS).

LeadingAge Calls of Feds to “Get Real on Ratios”

On February 2, 2023 by Mark Schulz

On Tuesday, LeadingAge released its “Get Real on Ratios” effort to advocate for a realistic federal minimum staffing requirement reflecting the reality of current staffing and funding crises.

Providers Should Weigh Pros and Cons of Federal Employee Retention Credit 

On February 2, 2023 by Jeff Bostic

As more providers continue to look at applying for an Employee Retention Credit (ERC), LeadingAge, our national partner, has developed a Frequently Asked Questions document that covers issues around eligibility and applying for those funds. 

National Partner LeadingAge to Host Nursing Home Network Call on Managed Care

On January 19, 2023 by Jeff Bostic

LeadingAge, our national partner, is hosting a special edition of the Nursing Home Network on Friday, Jan. 20, at noon CST. They are soliciting feedback on the recently-proposed rules governing Medicare Advantage and Special Needs Plans practices and policies.

CMS Automating Process for Sending CMP Letters

On January 19, 2023 by Mark Schulz

On Jan. 17, CMS survey staff leaders notified our national partners at LeadingAge that they are automating parts of the process for creating and sending letters to nursing homes for imposed Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs). There is no underlying CMP policy change being made.

CMS Announces Two Quality and Safety Initiatives Related to Antipsychotic Medication

On January 19, 2023 by Kari Everson

On Jan. 18, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced two initiatives in quality and safety oversight memo 23-05-NH in response to the Biden-Harris administration effort to improve nursing home transparency, safety, and quality. CMS intends to conduct offsite nursing home audits to determine if the nursing home correctly coded diagnoses for residents using antipsychotic medication. CMS will change how citations under dispute are posted.