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OSHA Releases Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of COVID-19
On April 10, 2020 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration released a memorandum detailing enforcement guidance for recording cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The memo provides interim guidance to Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) for...
Reducing Liability Risk Related to COVID-19
In recent months, providers have been faced with the challenge of caring for those patients diagnosed with COVID-19. It has greatly affected the long-term care community and several states have taken steps to protect providers from lawsuits related to the care...
Q & A – If the resident continues to have a dry cough after hospitalization, do I still use the RO5 for cough–he had one positive test for COVID-19 and 2 negatives?
Q: If the resident continues to have a dry cough after hospitalization, do I still use the RO5 for cough--he had one positive test for COVID-19 and 2 negatives? A: You should only code the signs and symptoms (i.e. R05 cough) if the patient has s/s associated...
Q & A – Is PNA related to COVID-19 an opportunistic infection?
Q: Is PNA related to COVID-19 an opportunistic infection? A: Pneumonia related to COVID-19 does not map to the NTA item Opportunistic Infection. Blog by Shelly Maffia, MSN, MBA, RN, LNHA, QCP, CHC, Proactive Medical Review Click here to learn more about Shelly...
Q & A – Is COVID19 coded as a MDRO?
Q: Is COVID19 coded as a MDRO? A: COVID-19 is not considered a Multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) and should not be coded at I1700 on the MDS. Blog by Shelly Maffia, MSN, MBA, RN, LNHA, QCP, CHC, Proactive Medical Review Click here to learn more about Shelly...
Five Star Quality Rating System Updates
On April 24, CMS issued a memo (QSO-20-28-NH) regarding Nursing Home Five Star Rating System updates, staffing data and frequently asked questions. In this memo, they announced that the health inspection domain of the five-star rating system will temporarily be...
Q & A – Can a Medicare Part A beneficiary who has exhausted his or her SNF benefits, but continues to need and receive skilled care in the SNF (e.g., for a qualifying feeding tube), renew SNF benefits under the section 1812(f) waiver regardless of whether or not the SNF or hospital was affected by the COVID-19 emergency?
Q: Can a Medicare Part A beneficiary who has exhausted his or her SNF benefits, but continues to need and receive skilled care in the SNF (e.g., for a qualifying feeding tube), renew SNF benefits under the section 1812(f) waiver regardless of whether or not the SNF or...
Q & A – Can practitioners provide Medicare telehealth services using their phones?
Q: Can practitioners provide Medicare telehealth services using their phones? A: Yes, for use of certain phones. Section 1135(b)(8) of the Social Security Act allows the Secretary to authorize use of telephones that have audio and video capabilities for the...
COVID-19 Clinical Tips for Respiratory Assessment
COVID-19 is an acute, sometimes severe, respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2. Person-to-person spread occurs through contact with infected secretions, mainly via contact with large respiratory droplets, but can also occur via contact with a...
SNF PPS Proposed Rule FY2021 Released
CMS issued the FY2021 SNF PPS Proposed Rule (effective October 1, 2020) on 4/10/20 with a 2.3% payment increase yielding an approximate increase of $784 million in payments to SNFS. Other changes to the code mappings for PDPM case-mix classification and updates for...
COVID-19: Stimulus Package Provides Relief for Providers
In response to increased expenses related to the COVID-19 response, financial relief to nursing homes is being released as part of the COVID-19 Stimulus Package. Spending for PPE and supplies; establishing isolation units, hazard pay or other staff incentives,...
Q & A – Does the section 1812(f) waiver for the 3-day qualifying hospital stay apply only to those beneficiaries who are actually diagnosed with COVID-19, or does the waiver apply to all SNF-level beneficiaries under Medicare Part A?
Q: Does the section 1812(f) waiver for the 3-day qualifying hospital stay apply only to those beneficiaries who are actually diagnosed with COVID-19, or does the waiver apply to all SNF-level beneficiaries under Medicare Part A? A: The qualifying hospital stay...
Q & A – Who are the Qualified Providers who are permitted to furnish telehealth services under the PHE waiver?
Q: Who are the Qualified Providers who are permitted to furnish telehealth services under the PHE waiver? A: The same health care providers are still permitted to furnish Medicare telehealth services under the waiver authority during the Public Health...
Q & A – Who can bill for the Medicare specimen collection fee for COVID-19 testing?
Q: Who can bill for the Medicare specimen collection fee for COVID-19 testing ? A: Independent laboratories can bill Medicare through their MAC for the specimen collection fee. The specimen collection fee applies if the specimen is collected by trained...
Care Planning & Charting for COVID-19
While documentation and care planning requirements are a well-established part of the daily SNF routine, it is important to consider the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on each resident’s treatment plan. Along with managing and supporting those known or suspected to...