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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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FY 2023 PDPM SNF PPS Calculator is Now Available

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 […]

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Five-Star Quality Rating System: Changes Your Nursing Facility Needs to Know

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 […]

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Proposed Rule FY 2023 for Skilled Nursing Facilities

Proposed Rule FY 2023 for Skilled Nursing Facilities

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 […]

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Technical Users’ Guide for the Care Compare Nursing Home

Technical Users’ Guide for the Care Compare Nursing Home Updates

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 […]

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Pile of blue masks | Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace | COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace | COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

On-Demand Webinar: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate in the Workplace

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 […]

Learn More
Skilled Nursing Facilities Vaccine Mandate

Skilled Nursing Facilities Vaccine Mandate

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 […]

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Consolidated Billing

Consolidated Billing: New HCPCS Codes for SNFs

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 […]

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F887 Tag

F887 Tag: Procedures Your Organization Need

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 […]

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Skilled Nursing Facilities

Skilled Nursing Facilities CMS Proposed Rule for 2022

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 […]

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Pepper Report and 5 Star Ratings

PEPPER Report and 5 Star Ratings: Why Your Long-Term Care Facility Should Care

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 […]

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Post-acute care hot topics for 2021

Post-Acute Care: Hot Topics Leading 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 […]

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Blue & Co.'s December 2020 Webinars | Free webinars | Financial services and consulting | PPP | Paycheck Protection Program Webinar | Manufacturing Webinars | Cybersecurity Webinars

Blue & Co. December 2020 Webinars

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 […]

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Outpatient Therapy | WellSky Webinar: Hospital Outpatient Therapy: A Patient-Centric Way to Grow Revenue

On Demand Webinar: Hospital Outpatient Therapy: A Patient-Centric Way to Grow Revenue

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 […]

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PAC News

Skilled Nursing Facilities PPS FY 2021 Final Rule Summary

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 […]

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PAC Billing Codes

Denied Claims due to Billing Codes

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 […]

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Webinars

FY 2023 PDPM SNF PPS Calculator is Now Available

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 […]

Learn More

Five-Star Quality Rating System: Changes Your Nursing Facility Needs to Know

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 […]

Learn More
Proposed Rule FY 2023 for Skilled Nursing Facilities

Proposed Rule FY 2023 for Skilled Nursing Facilities

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 […]

Learn More
Technical Users’ Guide for the Care Compare Nursing Home

Technical Users’ Guide for the Care Compare Nursing Home Updates

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 […]

Learn More
Pile of blue masks | Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace | COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace | COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

On-Demand Webinar: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate in the Workplace

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 […]

Learn More
Skilled Nursing Facilities Vaccine Mandate

Skilled Nursing Facilities Vaccine Mandate

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 […]

Learn More