Posted by LTCS on May 5, 2022
An April 7 CMS update outlined minimum regulatory requirements that providers must restore to protect residents’ health and safety.
Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers ending May 7, 2022 include: Physician Visits and Delegation of Tasks, Clinical Records, Resident Groups, Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Programs, and Discharge Planning.
Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers ending June 7, 2022 include:
Training and Certification of Nurse Aides mandating that a skilled nursing facility may not employ anyone for longer than four months unless they meet the training and certification requirements under CFR §483.35(d).
In-Service Training requiring a nursing assistant to receive at least 12 hours of in-service training annually under 42 CFR §483.95(g)(1).
Update to COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers
Posted by LTCS on May 3, 2022
Long term care facilities must develop and implement a baseline care plan for each resident within 48 hours of admission.
The guidelines state the 48 hour baseline care plan must include “the instructions needed to provide effective and person-centered care of the resident that meet professional standards of quality care,” including, but not limited to: initial goals based on admission orders, physician orders, dietary orders, therapy services, social services, and PASARR recommendation, if applicable.
According to the regulations, facilities may develop a comprehensive care plan in place of the baseline care plan if the comprehensive care plan meets all of the requirements for the baseline care plan outlined in the surveyor guidelines.
In order to assure all of the requirements of the guidelines are met, LTCS Books recommends that the facility develops and implements a comprehensive care plan within 48 hours of admission.
Baseline Care Plan Regulations
Complete Nursing Care Plans for Long Term Care
CMS Updated Surveyor Guidelines for Long Term Care Faciities
Posted by LTCS on January 13, 2022
CMS will begin posting the following information for each nursing home on the Medicare.gov Care Compare website:
Weekend Staffing: The level of total nurse and registered nurse (RN) staffing on weekends over a quarter.
Staff Turnover: The percent of nursing staff and number of administrators that stopped working at the nursing home over a 12-month period.
This information will be added to the Care Compare website in January 2022 and used in the Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System in July 2022.
Posted by LTCS on January 13, 2022
The new CMS regulations include an increase in Medicare Part A payments to SNFs, changes in PDPM ICD-10 code mappings, and an update to the Quality Reporting program.
Also included is a new claims-based measure for healthcare-associated infections (HAI) requiring hospitalization.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Measure will require long term care facilities to report on COVID-19 HCP vaccination of staff members through the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network.
SNF 2022 Federal Regulations, CMS Fact Sheet
Posted by LTCS on January 2, 2021
CMS has delayed release of updated versions of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) until October 1st of the year that is at least 2 full fiscal years after the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
CMS states a strong infection prevention and control program is critical to protect both residents and healthcare personnel.
Long term care facilities are instructed to assign at least one individual with training in strong infection prevention and control to provide COVID-19 prevention and response including developing policies and procedures, performing infection surveillance, providing training, and auditing adherence to recommended practices.
Non-emergency inspections of nursing homes across the country are suspended, allowing inspectors to focus on the most serious health and safety threats like infectious diseases and abuse.
The Latest CMS Skilled Nursing Facility Covid-19 Resources
More Covid-19 resources can be found in the article below.
Infection control policies and procedures, audits, regulations, and training materials can be found in the manual Infection Control Program for Long Term Care.
Posted by LTCS on March 6, 2020
Protocols for the prevention of Coronavirus infections in Nursing Homes have been outlined by CMS.
Infection control issues and other health and safety threats will be the exclusive focus of state survey facility inspections for some time.
CMS is directing all facilities to immediately review all of their infection control procedures to ensure compliance with CMS requirements and CDC guidelines.
CMS Plan for Coronavirus Prevention in Nursing Homes
Nursing Home Survey Changes and Coronavirus
CDC Strategies for Preventing Spread of Coronavirus in Nursing Homes
