Long-awaited protections for Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries and providers have been finalized! Soon, SNFs will be able to access an independent review for MA denials, including escalation to an ALJ. Celtic President and CEO, Maureen McCarthy, spoke with McKnights Long-Term Care News about steps the CY 2025 MA Final Rule made to level the playing … Continue reading
Providers are required to report Influenza Vaccination Coverage among HCP measure data through the NHSN Healthcare Personnel Safety (HPS) Component. For this measure, SNF’s are required to submit ONE report covering the entire influenza season. The 2023-2024 Influenza season is from October 1, 2023, through March 31,2024; the deadline to report the annual HCP Influenza … Continue reading
Providers, this fall you may have the ability to review and correct Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) data! Celtic President and CEO, Maureen McCarthy, talked to McKnight’s Long Term Care News about how this change in the proposed FY 2025 Medicare Part A rule could be a big opportunity for SNFs to improve their PBJ results. … Continue reading
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Medicare Part A Rule was released – expanded civil monetary penalty (CMP) policies for surveyors and unclear processes for collecting “validating data” for QRP by FY 2027 top concerns for providers. Veteran consultant and Celtic President and CEO, Maureen McCarthy, spoke with McKnights … Continue reading
How did you do? FY 2025 SNF VBP Program March 2024 Interim Quarterly Confidential Feedback Reports are available to download in iQIES. Reports include interim stay-level data for the SNF 30-Day All-Cause Readmission Measure (SNFRM) for 10/1/22-6/30/23, the FY 2025 SNF VBP program performance period. Interim data is not final and subject to change. Did … Continue reading
January 1st kicked off a new year; and for skilled nursing facilities and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, this new year offers big opportunities to get the access to care needed. Powerful changes included in the Medicare Advantage (MA) Contract Year (CY) 2024 Final Rule went into effect on 1/1/2024. Read the rest of the article here… Continue reading
Was 10/1 an MDS transition or did providers nationwide enter an escape room adventure? In Maureen McCarthy’s guest column for McKnights Long-Term Care News, she explores common errors reported by SNFs and offers three tips to use during tricky Triple Check meetings. Have you encountered pain points with the new MDS during these initial months? … Continue reading
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposal detailing access to QIO appeal process for Medicare Advantage (MA) denials; a BIG step towards leveling the playing field for beneficiaries and providers. Celtic’s President & CEO, Maureen McCathy, spoke with McKnights Long-Term Care News about the fantastic news. Coupled with significant progress achieved … Continue reading
Myers and Stauffer released a memo this week with HUGE changes for Connecticut SNF providers, effective on Sunday (10/1/2023). CT Providers – did you know: Beginning 10/1, you will need to complete an Optional State Assessment (OSA) MDS for ALL PAYERS, for all federally required MDSs (excluding stand-alone Discharges, stand-alone End of PPS Stay NPEs, … Continue reading
CMS released the Five-Star Technical Users’ Guide, finalizing how 10/1 MDS changes will impact Five-Star rating and Quality Measure (QM) calculations. Substantial changes included in the MDS 3.0 version 1.18.11 resulted in several changes to the Five-Star rating system: 4 QMs impacted by the removal of Section G and transition to Section GG Updates to … Continue reading