August 3, 2023

Alarms or No Alarms in Nursing Homes? That is the Question

When I informed my nursing staff that we were going to remove position change alarms, fear and panic set in. My staff looked at me in disbelief. They asked me if I was crazy. “Tell me, do alarms really keep our residents safe?” I asked my staff. “Too often the alarms do nothing more than tell us that our residents are already on the floor. How much time do you spend running into a resident’s room…

Achieving MDS Accuracy: Getting It Right, Keeping It Right

Are you struggling with achieving MDS accuracy? In order to get it right and keep it right, you must first understand the MDS, how to complete it accurately, how accuracy affects reimbursement, and the impact it can have on your facility’s Quality Measures. Understanding The Minimum Data Set (MDS) The Minimum Data Set is the cornerstone for Medicaid reimbursement methodology. It is used to classify residents into Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs) that in turn generates…

Compliance with CMS’s Regulatory Language: It’s Not Always Black and White

The never-ending discussion between healthcare providers and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the interpretation and true intent of regulatory mandates can be frustrating for both providers and CMS. Despite the fact that some regulatory language has not changed for years, it is often the source of ongoing discussion, debate, and re-interpretation, all for the sake of clarity and to assist providers in their desire to comply. The issue is exacerbated every year…