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LeadingAge Continuing to Provide Five-Star Analysis Reports
On February 10, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Earlier today, LeadingAge sent all care center members Five-Star Analysis reports that reflect updates to the data implemented by CMS a couple weeks ago. For more details on the scoring updates, go to this recent Advantage story that covers the changes in depth.
CMS Releases Updated Five Star Quality Ratings for Care Centers
On January 27, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today released updated Five-Star quality ratings for care centers. Beginning with this month’s update, all three domains (Survey, Staffing, and Quality) will again operate as they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. All care centers should review the new ratings posted at Medicare Care Compare. As described in this revised Technical Users’ Guide, updates to the specific domains are as follows:
CMS Quality Measures and MDS Web-Based Trainings Available
On January 20, 2021 by Julie Apold
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the following new quality and Minimum Data Set (MDS) web-based training content for skilled nursing facilities and Medicare home health providers:
New Criteria Should Reduce Number of Infection Control Surveys for Nursing Homes
On January 6, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
CMS issued a revised memo QSO-20-31-ALL-REVISED on Jan. 4 detailing new triggers for focused infection control (FIC) surveys. In addition to the two triggers previously identified, CMS has added 5 additional scenarios that will be used to help state survey agencies more narrowly target FIC surveys. The new criteria are effective immediately and will have the effect of reducing the volume of FIC surveys for many providers.
CMS Announces Updates to Five Star Quality Rating System
On December 9, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced (QSO-21-06-NH) on December 4 that the Five Star Quality Rating system will resume all updates with the January 2021 refresh. Due to the public health emergency (PHE) first issued in March 2020, the 3 domains of the rating system had previously been held constant at varying times throughout the past 9 months as a result of changes to health inspections and certain temporary regulatory waivers. During this time, CMS also unveiled the new Care Compare site, which officially replaced all legacy sites, including Nursing Home Compare, on December 1, 2020. Complete updates to the Five Star Quality Rating system will be available at the new Care Compare site on January 27, 2021.
CMS “Care Compare” Website Now Fully Rooted
On November 18, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
In early September the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched Care Compare, a streamlined redesign of eight existing CMS healthcare compare tools. The goal of this work was to allow consumers to access Nursing Home Compare, Hospice Compare, Home Health Compare, etc. all in the same location.
CMS Urges Nursing Homes to Use COVID-19 Staff Training
On November 18, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
In a Nov. 17 news release CMS urges nursing homes to take advantage of targeted COVID-19 training and highlights facilities that have already done so. This is the free course available on QSEP that offers modules for both front-line staff and management staff (access training here); it is separate from the longer QIO training offerings and from Project ECHO.
Latest Five-Star Analysis Reports Sent to Care Centers This Week
On November 4, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
LeadingAge sent all care center members their Five-Star Analysis reports this week. The pandemic has taken a toll on the collection and reporting of quality data, so while the staffing data is relatively new, the data on inspections and quality measures is from many months ago. We will continue to provide these reports regularly and expect CMS to be updating the data more regularly soon.
CMS Memo Addresses Emergency Preparedness Exercises
On October 7, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
Under CMS emergency preparedness regulations, nursing facilities are required to conduct two emergency preparedness testing exercises annually.
MDH, Providers Weigh Impact of CMS Revised Visitation Guidance
On September 23, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
In recognition of the physical and emotional toll that separation from family and other loved ones has taken on residents, CMS has issued
CMS Nursing Home Testing Call
On September 9, 2020 by Kari Everson
CMS held a call on nursing home testing yesterday evening featuring
DHS Shares Impact of HCBS Settings Rule Timeline Extensions for Minnesota
On August 26, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
On July 14, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance in a letter [PDF] announcing an extension to the implementation of the HCBS regulation timelines.
New CMS Rules Will Require Nursing Homes to Test Staff for COVID-19
On August 26, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
Nursing homes will be required to test staff for COVID-19, and offer testing to residents, under an Interim Final Rule released by CMS August 25. All laboratories conducting COVID-19 testing and reporting patient-specific results
CMS Resumes Survey Activity
On August 19, 2020 by Kari Everson
On August 17, 2020 CMS released a memo, QSO-20-35-ALL, describing expansion of survey activity and new guidance around enforcement.
CMS Launches Efforts to Improve Patient Safety, Quality of Care in Nursing Homes
On November 28, 2018 by Julie Apold
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched efforts to improve patient safety and quality of care in nursing homes. The Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program offers tools, resources and ongoing assistance to nursing home staff.