August 3, 2023

Why Do IRFs Still Need to Know About 1135 Waivers?

Our world has continued to change since March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic and the Public Health Emergency (PHE) were implemented. Many of the rules and regulations outlined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are continuing to be altered, due to the continuation of the PHE. The Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (MBPM), Chapter 1 houses the regulations that have traditionally governed Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs). On March 13, 2020, CMS issued blanket…

MDS Accuracy: Missed Opportunities and Mishaps and Section I – The Most Common Mistakes

In this Minimum Data Set (MDS) Accuracy Blog, we will highlight Sections and items in the MDS to review key misses that the experts at LW Consulting, Inc. (LWCI) have encountered. At LWCI, we thrive in partnering with clients to complete audits or provide consultative services to support concerns. As the experts at LWCI conduct audits, we identify commonalities with coding. Throughout this blog series we will be sharing information on optimal MDS coding, based…

What SNFs Need to Know About Medicare Cost Report Submissions

Medicare cost reports identify the costs and charges related to healthcare facility activities that are reimbursable. Providers who bill for Part A services, such as skilled nursing facilities, are required to submit Medicare cost reports five months after the close of the fiscal year. Failure to file in a timely manner could result in withholding of Medicare reimbursement. Don’t let this happen to you. Here’s what every skilled nursing facility (SNF) needs to know about cost…