Home Health, News

CMS posts materials for home health quality reporting training

Source: Home Health Line
CMS has posted training materials for the recent home heath quality reporting program in-person “Train the Trainer” event for home health agencies.
That training included an overview of OASIS changes, Section GG, Section J and changes in skin integrity.
The event’s goal was “to provide those responsible for training home health agency staff with information about the [home health quality reporting program] and associated changes between the OASIS-C2 and the OASIS-D which became effective, …

Home Health, News

CMS rewrites surveyor guidance for determining immediate jeopardy

Source: Excerpt from Home Health Line
In an effort to streamline its process and increase communication with providers, CMS has rewritten its guidance for surveyors on when and how to determine if an immediate jeopardy (IJ) to patients exists.
There are now three key components that must be met for immediate jeopardy to be called. Surveyors must identify noncompliance with a single federal safety standard; find evidence of harm or likelihood of harm; and determine there is …

News, Skilled Nursing Facility

Identifying your competency assessors

Source: Competency-Based Care & Facility Assessments: A Compliance Guide for F726 and F838
Can you identify competency assessors by title? Let’s look at the following common job titles that may carry with them the responsibility for competency assessment:
Nurse managers, supervisors, and preceptors. The ability to perform competency assessment is an integral role of nursing leadership in long-term care. A preceptor is an excellent method to promote a successful orientation of new employees. The essential qualities needed …

News, Skilled Nursing Facility

Congress makes another attempt to eliminate three-midnight rule barriers to SNF coverage

This March, Congress will re-introduce legislation with bipartisan support to allow Medicare beneficiaries that are hospitalized in observation to qualify for SNF coverage following their hospital stay. Currently, under the three-midnight rule, beneficiaries must have been categorized as being an inpatient in a hospital for three midnights in order to qualify for a Medicare Part A SNF stay.
SNFs have become all too familiar with a costly scenario: A patient leaves the hospital after a few …