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On January 30, 2023, the White House stated that there will be an extension of the Public Health Emergency through May 11, and the Public Health Emergency will officially end on that day. Extending it to May 11 officially gave the 60-day notice that the White House had promised previously. Read more by clicking the above link.
Public Health Emergency Resource Update
Public Health Emergency Resource Update
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has resources available to help you prepare for the end of the PHE.
The following materials reflect recent changes and are currently available on the CMS Emergencies Page:
Provider-specific fact sheets for information about COVID-19 Public Health Emergency(PHE) waivers and flexibilities
CMS 1135 Waiver / Flexibility Request and Inquiry Form
It is encouraged to regularly visit the CMS Emergencies Page for the most up-to-date information provided as we approach the end of the PHE.
Back to Basics: Returning to Pre-Pandemic Medicare Regulatory Compliance
Back to Basics: Returning to Pre-Pandemic Medicare Regulatory Compliance
Due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) relied on distinct waivers related to technical eligibility for Medicare and when the waivers expire, facilities must return to pre-pandemic requirements. With the unfortunate turnover in staff, some newer staff members may not be familiar with all the Medicare requirements that are standard outside of the PHE. It is recommended that staff revisit the basics of the technical and coverage requirements of Medicare.
January 18, 2023: CMS NEWS
January 18, 2023: CMS NEWS
CMS to increase oversight of inappropriate antipsychotic use
CMS to increase oversight of inappropriate antipsychotic use
As part of the continuing efforts under President Biden’s initiative to improve nursing home transparency, safety and quality, and accountability, today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced new actions to reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications and to bring greater transparency about nursing home citations to families. Click the above link to read more about the steps to be taken.
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): New MDS Items Are a Cultural Starting Point
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): New MDS Items Are a Cultural Starting Point
The seven SDOH items, Ethnicity, Race, Language, Preference for an Interpreter, Health Literacy, Transportation, and Social Isolation provide important assessment information for either care planning or discharge planning. However, Ethnicity, Race, Language, and Health Literacy may prove to be the most useful for developing culturally competent care plans as required under F-tag 656 Develop/Implement Comprehensive Care Plan in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual (SOM).
~~~~~Mark Your Calendar~~~~~
~~~~~Mark Your Calendar~~~~~
CMS is excited to announce that the transition of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment submission and reporting functionality to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) will occur on Monday, April 17, 2023.
CMS is excited to announce that the transition of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment submission and reporting functionality to the Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) will occur on Monday, April 17, 2023.
To properly prepare for the transition, the QIES Assessment Submission and Processing (ASAP) system for MDS submissions will be turned off on Thursday, April 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Providers should submit completed MDS records prior to 8:00 p.m. ET on April 13 to QIES (ASAP) or wait until 8:00 a.m. ET on April 17 to submit data in iQIES. Providers are expected to take into account all requirements when determining the date they submit completed MDS records, including but not limited to, submission timeliness, claims processing, and care planning requirements.
CMS will provide additional information through various email notifications regarding training, technical guidance, details on what to expect, and more.
Register for an iQIES Account
Please note that failure to obtain access to iQIES prior to April 17, 2023 will impact your ability to submit MDS records. As mentioned in previous communications, nursing home and swing bed providers who are required to submit data to CMS must have at least one staff person assigned and approved as the facility Provider Security Official (PSO), who works for the provider and is responsible for approving all other users for their facility. For information and instructions to register for an iQIES account.
Questions?
If you have questions or require assistance, please contact the iQIES Service Center at iqies@cms.hhs.gov or by phone at (800) 339-9313. Please note that call volume may be higher than normal during this time.
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