Thought Leadership
When it comes to thought leadership and staying informed, we’ve got you covered. See below for recent articles, webinars, and downloadable resources available.
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November 16, 2022
It has been a month since regulation for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) rates went into effect. In the final rule CMS put in place a 4.6% PDPM (Patient-Driven Payment Model) parity adjustment to reduce overall spending to a budget-neutral […]
July 15, 2022
On July 7, 2022 the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the updated Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating Technical Users’ Guide with the methodology for the changes to the Staffing Rating and the Overall Quality Rating. Here is what your facility needs to know. Changes to the Staffing Rating CMS is basing the […]
May 04, 2022
It is that time of year again! The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies and rates for the fiscal year (FY) 2023’s Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS). The Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) was implemented on October 1, 2019. This […]
January 25, 2022
On January 14, 2022, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated the Technical Users’ Guide for the Care Compare Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating System. While this information will be publicly reported starting in January, it will not be used in the Five-Star Quality Rating System until July 2022. Here is what you need to […]
November 17, 2021
President Biden’s administration recently announced its Path Out of the Pandemic action plan which included specific guidance around a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The action plan calls for employers with 100 or more employees to require employees to be vaccinated or submit to weekly tests, as well as requiring vaccinations for federal employees, contractors, and hospitals […]
November 11, 2021
Last week there were two new rules issued by the Biden administration regarding vaccine mandates. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim final rule (IFR), along with the Emergency Temporary Standards released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Providers Involved: Ambulatory Surgical Centers Hospice Agencies Psychiatric Resident Treatment Facilities […]
July 20, 2021
New HCPCS codes related to consolidated billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities goes into effect, Oct. 1, 2021. CMS states that this will impact any SNF that “bill Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services provided to Medicare patients in a covered Part A stay in a SNF.” The full list of code changes are included below […]
May 19, 2021
Last week the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) posted an interim final rule and Memo QS0-21-19-NH for infection control requirements for long-term care. These regulations go into effect on May 21, 2021. Do you have policies and procedures in place to avoid the F887 Tag? Memo QS0-21-19-NH Memo QS0-21-19-NH states that long term care facilities […]
April 22, 2021
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed rule for fiscal year (FY) 2022 that would update Medicare’s prospective payment system (PPS) rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). CMS estimated that the proposal would impact payment to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) Medicare Part A as an increase of around $444 million dollars […]
March 01, 2021
Monitoring data in long term care can be the key to success. Five Star Ratings and PEPPER Reports are two data sources your organization needs to review to stay on top of industry changes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released revisions to the 5 Star Technical Users’ Guide, and with the […]
January 25, 2021
Skilled nursing facilities are under intense pressure with all the new reporting requirements. Vaccinations, testing, PDPM, Quality Measures, Quality Reporting Program (QRP), staffing and infection control surveys are just a few of the items skilled nursing facilities are having to juggle these days. The only constant is change and the need to stay informed on […]
December 11, 2020
It’s webinar season at Blue & Co., LLC.! Check out all of our upcoming events for the week of December, 14. Monday, December 14 Panel Discussion Regarding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Webinar – Free to attend On Monday, December 14 from noon – 1 p.m. EST, Blue & Co., LLC will be hosting a panel […]
November 16, 2020
Outpatient physical therapy programs are often overlooked in the hospital. However, there are several opportunities to increase access to care for patients and increase revenue for the hospital in outpatient therapy. Believe it or not, there are still opportunities for charge capture in this area, along with some basic “blocking and tackling” operational issues. New […]
October 01, 2020
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule [CMS-1737-F] for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 that updates the Medicare payment rates and the value-based purchasing program for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Effective October 1, 2020 under the PPS Patient- Driven Payment Model (PDPM). Federal Based Rates Updates to Payment Rates Under PPS Case-mix […]
July 30, 2020
A new issue is affecting some inpatient hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) claims when an interrupted stay is billed at the end of the month. The system incorrectly assigns edits U5601-U5608 (overlapping a hospital claim). If you billed the interrupted stay correctly, and your claim is rejected, modify your billing so the claim spans […]
Webinars
November 16, 2022
It has been a month since regulation for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) rates went into effect. In the final rule CMS put in place a 4.6% PDPM (Patient-Driven Payment Model) parity adjustment to reduce overall spending to a budget-neutral […]
July 15, 2022
On July 7, 2022 the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the updated Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating Technical Users’ Guide with the methodology for the changes to the Staffing Rating and the Overall Quality Rating. Here is what your facility needs to know. Changes to the Staffing Rating CMS is basing the […]
May 04, 2022
It is that time of year again! The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies and rates for the fiscal year (FY) 2023’s Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS). The Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) was implemented on October 1, 2019. This […]
January 25, 2022
On January 14, 2022, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated the Technical Users’ Guide for the Care Compare Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating System. While this information will be publicly reported starting in January, it will not be used in the Five-Star Quality Rating System until July 2022. Here is what you need to […]
November 17, 2021
President Biden’s administration recently announced its Path Out of the Pandemic action plan which included specific guidance around a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The action plan calls for employers with 100 or more employees to require employees to be vaccinated or submit to weekly tests, as well as requiring vaccinations for federal employees, contractors, and hospitals […]
November 11, 2021
Last week there were two new rules issued by the Biden administration regarding vaccine mandates. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim final rule (IFR), along with the Emergency Temporary Standards released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Providers Involved: Ambulatory Surgical Centers Hospice Agencies Psychiatric Resident Treatment Facilities […]
