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 …
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 …
Cue the Theme Music from “Jaws”…Flu Season is Right Around the Corner
“The real risk is that we’re going to have two circulating respiratory pathogens at the same time.” This is the statement made by Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to Time magazine last month. He went on to say this: “In high-risk groups we know flu by itself can cause substantial morbidity and …
Breaking News: Fiscal Year 2021 Payment and Policy Changes for Medicare SNFs Final Rule Issued
“On July 31, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule [CMS-1737-F] for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 that updates the Medicare payment rates and the value-based purchasing program for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). CMS is publishing this final rule consistent with the legal requirements to update Medicare payment policies for SNFs on an annual basis. …
[Free webinar, Jul 29] Prepping for PBJ quarterly success: Critical answers to your top questions
After a bumpy three-month ride, PBJ reporting is back on track for the quarter. In late March, CMS issued a staffing data submission waiver due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. On June 25, that waiver ended – which means PBJ reporting requirements for the quarter are back in effect. In this free webinar, find out the latest PBJ news and get …
SNF PEPPER Reports Are Coming
In case you forgot about your annual PEPPER report, CMS has not. CMS has directed the PEPPER team to resume distribution of PEPPER reports to all post-acute facilities. The SNF Q4FY report will be delivered on July 29, 2020. It was originally scheduled for release on April 6, 2020 but it was held at that time due to the COVID-19 …