Just a few minutes ago, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced it will distribute approximately $333 million in first round performance payments to over 10,000 nursing homes. These nursing homes are being recognized for demonstrating significant reductions in COVID-19 related infections and deaths between August and September. “These …
Weekly COVID-19 Data, Version 12 Toolkit and Other COVID-19 Updates
CMS has updated this toolkit – Version 12 is now available and it’s 192 pages in length. This toolkit includes recent information and guidance on vaccinations to prevent infection with influenza virus, pneumococcus, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. CMS has posted COVID-19 Nursing Home data for week ending October 11, 2020. COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare …
How to Avoid Denials and Adverse Audit Results Based on Homebound Status
This article is a repost from Elizabeth Hogue. Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. Office: 877-871-4062 Fax: 877-871-9739 E-mail: ElizabethHogue@ElizabethHogue.net Twitter: @HogueHomecare How to Avoid Denials and Adverse Audit Results Based on Homebound Status Medicare-certified home health agencies are justifiably concerned about recent fraud and abuse initiatives that target homebound status. Agency managers perceive that they are extremely vulnerable regarding this issue …
International Infection Prevention Week: October 18 – 24, 2020
Yes, there’s a week for this and it couldn’t be timelier this year and this week (every week actually). COVID-19 has shown the world what we’ve always known—infection preventionists (IPs) are essential to keeping the world safe. In addition to all the usual suspects (healthcare-associated infections, resurgence in measles outbreaks, flu season, etc.), the infection prevention and control community is …
Last chance to save HHQI resources!
The Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign website and the HHQI University learning portal will be discontinued on November 1, 2020. The HHQI website has a treasure of FREE resources to use for your QAPI projects and quality improvement activities – Best Practice Intervention Packages (BPIPs) for reducing acute care hospitalizations, improving dyspnea, oral meds, pain management, and ADLs, as …
Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program
Late afternoon Friday, October 16, 2020, NHSN/CDC sent the following letter to NHSN LTCF Users: Dear NHSN Long-term Care Facility Users, Immunization with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a critical component of our Nation’s strategy to reduce COVID-19 related illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. Early in the COVID-19 vaccination program, there may be a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine …
MLN Fact Sheet: ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT and HCPCS CODE SETS
I just ran across this great updated (September 2020) MLN Fact Sheet. This 6-page educational tool gives health care providers, suppliers, medical coders, billing and claims staff an easy reference to information on the code sets used to bill Medicare claims. Use this tool when submitting inpatient and outpatient diagnoses, procedures, and supplies on Medicare claims. This is a resource …
Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC; Requirements and Enforcement Process for Reporting COVID-19 Data Elements for Hospitals and CAHs
On October 6, 2020, CMS issued this QSO-21-03-Hospitals/CAHs memorandum. This is a 12-page memorandum. Also included with this QSO is a Hospital Mandatory COVID-19 Reporting Enforcement Workflow document: Facilities to Report The following hospitals should report the data elements specified in the table below on a daily basis, except Psychiatric and Rehabilitation hospitals will report weekly: Short term Long term …
CDC Updates “How COVID is Spread” Webpage
On October 5, 2020, CDC issued updated guidance to its How COVID-19 Spreads website, which includes information about the potential for airborne spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. This updated guidance was announced via a Media Release. “CDC continues to believe, based on current science, that people are more likely to become infected the longer and closer they are …
Boo to the Flu!
Get your flu vaccine by Halloween. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is waging a campaign for citizens to get their flu shot and get it early this year. You can help. Encourage your residents, staff, families, friends, visitors, vendors, etc. to get this flu shot. The flu can be scary, especially for the ones we love most. Luckily, …