A webinar covering recent changes to COVID reporting forms and definitions will be replayed on Oct. 9^th         

Weekly nursing home reporting will rely on the new definition beginning Sept. 30^th. CDC training available.

There have been a number of changes made to the Five-Star Quality Rating System this year. Changes started at the January 2024 refresh and will continue through the January 2025 refresh. As a member benefit, LeadingAge NY offers nursing homes a free Five-Star consult, a live, one-hour session providing a deep dive into your most recent Five-Star Analysis Report.

LeadingAge National has heard from several nursing home members lately about unannounced visits being conducted by CMS contractors. They are working with CMS to improve these processes and, in the meantime, have compiled information to help members identify these visits and know how to respond.

While LeadingAge National has been unable to obtain data on the number of schizophrenia audits being conducted or rates of success and failure among nursing homes selected for audits, they are hearing that few homes are passing and that homes often have little or no adequate documentation to show how a clinician arrived at a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

CMS has posted an updated web-based training series on accurate coding of MDS Section GG data elements that includes five courses.

LeadingAge National has recently heard increased concern from members and states about CMS’s schizophrenia audits. The association has reached out to both CMS and the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities to learn more and has compiled information and best practices to assist members who may be facing these audits.

Providers can now request corrections until Sept. 23^rd.