The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a web-based training.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a web-based training that provides an overview of the general and key clinical considerations important for conducting standardized cognitive and mood assessments. This training is part of a four-course series designed for providers in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)setting. The courses contained within this series are:
Course 1: Approaches to Cognitive & Mood Assessments for SNF Providers.
Course 2: Assessment of Cognitive Function for SNF Providers (BIMS).
Course 3: Assessing Delirium in the SNF Care Setting (CAM©).
Course 4: The Resident Mood Interview(PHQ-9©) for SNF Providers.
This course, Approaches to Cognitive & Mood Assessments for SNF Providers, can be used on-demand anywhere you can access a browser. It contains interactive exercises to test your knowledge related to cognitive and mood assessments. The course should take approximately30 minutes to complete. Topics included are listed below. While it is intended that lessons be completed in sequential order, you may also jump directly to any topic of interest. The web-based training can be accessed here: https://pac.training/courses/snf_cognitive_course_1/#/
AANAC Transition to AAPACN:
AANAC has transitioned to American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) Connect. According to the website it is your private online community where you can connect with morethan15,000 of your peers in the long-term care field to seek advice, ask questions, offer expertise, find tools and documents, and build a support system. When you type AANAC into the browser you will be taken to a page that identifies “coming soon” but there are no links to click on but when you go to AAPACN Connect all the links are there just like the previous AANAC page. Your AANAC user name and password will let you access your previous AANAC account. Here is the link to AAPACN: Connect Home - AAPACN Connect
OIG: CMS Could Improve the Data It Uses To Monitor Antipsychotic Drugs in Nursing Homes
The Office of Inspector General conducted a comparative analysis of Medicare claims against the MDS records and determined the number of residents who had a Part D claim for an anti psychotic drug as compared to the number of residents whom the MDS reported as receiving these drugs were not comparable to the CMS quality measure. Further, they determined the extent to which there were inconsistencies between residents 'MDS-reported diagnoses of schizophrenia, Huntington's disease, or Tourette's syndrome-three diagnoses that exclude residents from CMS's quality measure regarding antipsychotics-and these residents' Medicare claims in 2017 and 2018for each respective diagnosis. Read the summary here: CMS Could Improve the Data It Uses To Monitor Antipsychotic Drugs in Nursing Homes(hhs.gov)
CMS Interim Final Rule
CMS published the Interim Final Rule for Medicare and Medicaid Programs; COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID) Residents, Clients, and Staff. These regulations are effective on May 21, 2021. To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below, no later than5 p.m. on July 12, 2021. A link has been set up for comments at this site: Federal Register : Medicare and Medicaid Programs; COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID) Residents, Clients, and Staff
