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CMS Could Fine Nursing Homes for Not Allowing Visitation

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practice Management, Practitioners
September 25, 2020

In a blog post in the Sun Sentinel, CMS Administrator Seema Verma indicated that nursing facilities could face fines for not allowing visitation without good health care reasons. Verma indicated that the agency “expects all nursing homes to provide residents a means of visitation.”  She added, “That’s why we’re directing our network of inspectors to cite any Medicare or Medicaid nursing home that limits visitation without reasonable...

Nursing Home Commission Report Released

Policy Snapshot
September 18, 2020

Last week the independent nursing home commission established by an executive order from President Trump back in May and convened by the MITRE Corporation released its findings. The Commission called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to take immediate action to implement each of the 27 recommendations that were put together in themes. “To reduce suffering and to save the lives of residents and staff, CMS can implement or initiate the Commission’s actionable recommendations in relatively short order,” the commission concluded.

The overall themes of the report...

Live Q&A: CMS-CDC Fundamentals of COVID-19 Prevention for Nursing Home Management

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practitioners
September 18, 2020

Topic: Live Q&A: CMS-CDC Fundamentals of COVID-19 Prevention for Nursing Home Management

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2020 (and twice a month through January 2021)

Time: 4–5 PM ET

Registration Link

This...

SNF Healthcare-Associated Infections Measure: Submit Comments by October 14

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practitioners
September 18, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks input on a draft measure for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program: Healthcare-Associated Infections Requiring Hospitalizations. Visit the Public Comments webpage for more information. Submit comments to ...

CMS announces launch of 2020 flu season campaign, providing partner resources

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practice Management, Practitioners
September 18, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has kicked off its 2020-2021 flu season campaign with new resources to encourage people with Medicare or other CMS health care programs to get their flu shot. CMS encourages national and community partners to use CMS materials to educate people about the importance of flu vaccination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a flu shot has many important benefits, including reducing the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death....

CMS/CDC Hold Open Call with Nursing Homes to Clarify Antigen Testing Final Rule

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practice Management, Practitioners
September 11, 2020

On Tuesday, September 8, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Secretary Robert Redfield, MD, held a joint open call with nursing home representatives to discuss the COVID 19 Testing and Reporting Requirements Based Interim Final Rule with Comment Period released on August 25 that became effective and published in the Federal Register on September 2. The officials presented the new regulatory requirements, guidance on how nursing facilities can meet those requirements, and available...

Home Health, Hospice, IRF, LTCH, & SNF Quality Reporting Programs: COVID-19 Public Reporting

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practitioners
September 11, 2020

COVID-19 public reporting tip sheets are available for home health, hospice, inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), long-term care hospital (LTCH), and...

Dementia Care Call — September 22

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practitioners
September 3, 2020

National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care and Quality Assurance Performance Improvement

Tuesday, September 22 from 1:30 to 3:00 PM ET

Register for Medicare Learning Network events.

During this call, learn about the unique challenges facing nursing home residents living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic and best practices to support them. A question and answer session will follow the presentations.

Speakers:

  • Cathleen Lawrence and Dara Graham, Centers for Medicare
    • ...

CMS Launches Revamped Medicare Compare Website

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practitioners
September 3, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched Care Compare, a streamlined redesign of eight existing CMS health care compare tools available on Medicare.gov – including Nursing Home Compare. Care Compare provides a single interface that patients and caregivers can use to make informed decisions about health care based on cost, quality of care, the volume of services, and other data. Patients can find information that is easy to understand about doctors, hospitals,...

CMS’ Proposed Physician Fee Schedule Seeks Input on Future of Telehealth in PALTC

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Practice Management, Practitioners
September 3, 2020

There were several important telehealth proposals for post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) included in the release of the CY2021 Physician Fee Scheduled Proposed Rule earlier this month. The proposals aim to build on the momentum from waivers for the use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. For PALTC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) waived the existing once a month restriction for subsequent care codes (99307-99310) used under telehealth and added initial...