News / Blog
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Home Health News: Preliminary April 2025 Interim Performance Reports (IPRs) are Available on iQIES
Preliminary April 2025 Interim Performance Reports (IPRs) are Available on iQIES The Preliminary April 2025 IPRs for the expanded HHVBP Model have been published on the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). The quarterly IPRs provide home...
Ask Proactive – Is the nursing home required to have Compliance and Ethics Program meetings with a certain frequency?
Q: Is the nursing home required to have Compliance and Ethics Program meetings with a certain frequency? A: While there is no requirement related to a specific meeting frequency at 483.85, the General Compliance Program Guidance states that “The Compliance...
LTC Smoking/Vaping Safety 101
LTC Smoking/Vaping Safety 101 As the use of tobacco and vaping products continues to evolve, nursing homes must address the unique challenges these habits pose to resident safety, health outcomes, and regulatory compliance. Whether accommodating individuals who...
Ask Proactive – Q: What are some scenarios in which an IDR (Informal Dispute Resolution) might be requested?
Q: What are some scenarios in which an IDR (Informal Dispute Resolution) might be requested? A: The IDR process gives nursing facilities one informal opportunity to dispute cited deficiencies after any survey of Federal requirements for participation. The...
Fixing Broken Facilities – Case Studies in QAPI
Fixing Broken Facilities – Case Studies in QAPI Strong Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs lead long term care facilities to positive outcomes. QAPI also helps to foster an engaged culture due to its emphasis on improving systems to affect...
Safeguarding Residents: F880 Infection Prevention and Control
Safeguarding Residents: F880 Infection Prevention and Control F880 Infection prevention and control is the most frequently cited deficiency for surveys conducted during FY2025, with over 3,000 violations according to Casper data. When assessing compliance with...
Ask Proactive – Q: Are wounds not otherwise classified on the MDS supposed to be coded at M1040D. Open lesion(s) other than ulcers, rashes, cuts?
Q: Are wounds not otherwise classified on the MDS supposed to be coded at M1040D. Open lesion(s) other than ulcers, rashes, cuts? A: Accurate coding of skin conditions on the MDS must begin with determining the underlying cause (etiology) of the skin issue....
CMS Releases Draft MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.20.1
CMS has released the draft version of the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual (v1.20.1), now available on the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual page. While the manual is still in draft form, the changes are significant and go into effect October 1, 2025. Facilities should begin planning now...
Home Health News: Home Health Care CAHPS Survey of Patient Experience
Home Health Care CAHPS Survey of Patient Experience Moving the needle on the HHCAHPS in home health requires a targeted approach to implementing standard care practices, prioritizing education for clinicians, patients, and caregivers, and emphasizing patient...
Ask Proactive – I am having difficulty keeping up with care plan updates. What are some tips and strategies to keep care plans up-to-date?
Q: I am having difficulty keeping up with care plan updates. What are some tips and strategies to keep care plans up-to-date? A: Maintaining timely and accurate updates to resident care plans is essential not only for delivering quality, person-centered care,...
Safeguarding Residents – F689 Managing Elopement in LTC
Safeguarding Residents – F689 Managing Elopement in LTC Elopement is one of the most urgent safety risks in long term care, often leading to devastating outcomes and serious regulatory citations. Ensuring the safety and well-being of residents is a top priority...
Ask Proactive – My IDT team determined one of our residents needs a Significant Change assessment completed. I set the ARD, is it correct that I have 14 days from the ARD to complete this?
Q: My IDT team determined one of our residents needs a Significant Change assessment completed. I set the ARD, is it correct that I have 14 days from the ARD to complete this? A: No, the completion date for a Significant Change assessment is not based on the...
Home Health News: Preview Reports and Star Rating Preview Reports for the July 2025 Refresh
Preview Reports and Star Rating Preview Reports for the July 2025 Refresh The HHA Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on the compare tool on...
Crack the Code to Payment Accuracy: Why ICD-10 Coding Proficiency Matters Now More Than Ever
Crack the Code to Payment Accuracy: Why ICD-10 Coding Proficiency Matters Now More Than Ever In today’s reimbursement-driven healthcare environment, one thing is clear: accurate coding isn’t optional—it’s essential. For Skilled Nursing Facilities, ICD-10 coding...
Ask Proactive – What is the time frame in which a 5-day assessment should be completed?
Q: What is the time frame in which a 5-day assessment should be completed? A: The answer depends on whether the 5-day MDS is combined with the OBRA admission assessment or completed as a stand-alone Medicare 5-day MDS. When combined with the OBRA admission...