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March 28, 2008
 Progressing toward the 9th SOW
CMS is experiencing a very busy time as the QIO Program 9th Statement of Work (SOW) request for proposals was issued in January and proposals from bidders are due in mid- to late March.
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March 27, 2008
 Ten million U.S. baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s disease
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, according to their new report, the 2008 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. The new report says the disease is poised to strike one out of eight baby boomers.
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March 3, 2008
 Karen Merk, Receives Certification of Completion from Intensive QIS Course
Karen Merk, Senior Care Clinical Conslutant has recently received her Certificate of Completion from the Intensive QIS Course, held in Denver Colorado in March.
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February 5, 2008
 MDS 3.0 Timeline
CMS has released the following Timeline for the MDS 3.0 (Minimum Data Set).
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January 22, 2008
 Joint Commission Presents Resident Safety Goals
The Joint Commission wants to improve the accuracy of resident identification and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Accurately and completely reconcile resident medications across the continuum of care, and encourage residents' active involvement in their own care as a resident safety strategy.
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January 17, 2008
 CMS Releases Final Draft Version of MDS 3.0
Federal regulators released the final draft version of the MDS 3.0, a week before they will hold a special, informational Open Door Forum on it.
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January 1, 2008
 MDS 2.0 Revisions Effective January 1, 2008
December 2002 Revised Long Term Care Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User's Manual for the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Version 2.0 will be updated with a January 1, 2008 effective date.
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December 19, 2007
 Nursing Home Citations Climb 22%
More nursing homes are being cited for serious violations as inspectors face increasing pressure to crack down on dangerous conditions, a USA TODAY analysis shows.
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October 30, 2007
 Governor Chet Culver proclaimed the week of October 7-13 as Nursing Home Culture Change Week
Proclamation encourages all Iowans to support efforts to transform nursing homes to a more home-like environment.
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October 29, 2007
 Briggs Corporation/GuideOne AAHSA Presentation - Well Received
Briggs Corporation and GuideOne's partnered presenting the “Working with families as Partners in Service Delivery” Seminar at AAHSA in Orlando, Florida was a great success!
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October 26, 2007
 MDS 3.0 to take effect in October 2009
The implementation date for the new MDS 3.0 is set for Oct. 1, 2009.
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September 5, 2007
 CMS to Make NPI Data Public
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently disclosed a National Provider Identifier (NPI) database to the public.
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August 21, 2007
 CMS Issues New Guidance on Feeding Assistants, F-Tag 373
The new surveyor guidance on paid feeding assistants, F-Tag 373, highlights areas that inspectors should focus on during surveys, including whether assistants have completed state-approved training and whether the facility has record of it.
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August 21, 2007
 Medicare Ends Reimbursement to Hospitals for Pressure Ulcers
Medicare no longer will reimburse hospitals for pressure ulcers and other preventable infections, according to a new rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
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August 20, 2007
 Revisions to Appendix PP Guidance to Surveyors for Long-Term Care Facilities
Revisions to Appendix PP Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities (F323/324 combined). Transmittal #R27SOMA was implemented August 6, 2007.
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July 12, 2007
 Issuance of Revised Guidance for Nursing Homes:
Accidents and Supervision
CMS has revised Accidents and Supervision tags, F323 and F324 and are combining them to create F323. Accidents and Supervision, F-Tag 323/324, will be effective August 6, 2007.
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June 28, 2007
 CMS: National Provider Identification Information Delayed a Month
National Provider Identification information will by delayed by one month. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services made the announcement Tuesday after promising earlier to post the information online by the end of this month.
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May 30, 2007
 OSHA To Target Nursing Homes
Some nursing homes may soon receive an unexpected visit from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
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May 23, 2007
 OSHA Releases New Flu Guidance
The federal government has released pandemic flu preparedness guidance specifically for health care workers and their employers.
Click here for more information.

May 7, 2007
 CMS Proposes Increase in Medicare Payments to Nursing Homes
for 2008
Medicare payments to nursing homes would increase by approximately $690 million in the 2008 fiscal year under new rates proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
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April 27, 2007
 Regulatory Quarterly Update and Washington Update
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Quarterly Provider Update (QPU) is available.
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March 13, 2007
 CMS Breaking News Regarding Form CMS-1500
It has come to our attention that there are incorrectly formatted versions of the revised form. Given the circumstances, CMS has decided to extend the acceptance period of the Form CMS-1500 (12-90) version beyond the original April 1, 2007 deadline while this situation is resolved.
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February 20, 2007
 U.S. Department of Labor Announces $2.5 Million Competition for
Long-Term Care Training
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announced a grant competition for approximately $2.5 million to be invested in training for the health care industry’s long-term care sector.
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February 7, 2007
 MDS 2.0 RAI Revisions Effective March 1, 2007
Effective March 1, 2007, CMS has released revisions for MDS 2.0 RAI
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December 18, 2006
 Revisions to Appendix P and PP of the CMS Manual System
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October 4, 2006
 2007 CMS Action Plan for Nursing Facilities
CMS has released their 2007 Action Plan for Nursing Home Quality.
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September 20, 2006
 Providers Release Emergency Care Guidance for Dementia Residents
A new guide offers a roadmap to nursing facility staff for caring for people with dementia during emergencies such as a major disease outbreak or hurricane.
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September 18, 2006
 New Guidance for Drugs and Pharmacy
Revised guidance for long-term care surveyors regarding Unnecessary Drugs, Pharmacy Services, Drug Regimen Review and Labeling and Storage of Drugs and Biologicals will be effective December 18, 2006.
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September 18, 2006
 Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunizations
New guidance for long-term care surveyors regarding the provision of Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunizations becomes effective October 1, 2006.
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September 1, 2006
 Announcing a New Two-Year Advancing Excellence in America’s
Nursing Homes Campaign
A new coalition of groups are joining together to launch a new two-year Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign.
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August 16, 2006
 CMS has Released a Draft for Comment of Revised Guidance to Surveyors of Long-Term Care Facilities
CMS has released a draft for comment of revised Guidance to Surveyors of Long-Term Care Facilities for the current tag, F309 Quality of Care: Assessment and Management of Pain.
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May 26, 2006
 CMS has Released New Guidance for Posting of Staff Information
(New F-Tag 356)
CMS is implementing a new regulatory tag, F356, for citation of deficiencies regarding the posting of nurse staffing information.
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May 11, 2006
 CMS Releases Clarification on Nursing Homes and Medicare Part D
The CMS memorandum clarifies residents’ rights regarding Medicare Part D.
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March 10, 2006
 CMS has Released Revised Guidance for Activities
(Tags F248 and F249)
CMS has released revised surveyor guidance for Activities and QAA requirements in long-term care facilities.
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December 6, 2005
 Changed Dehydration RAP
CMS announced that effective January 2006, newly available detailed dehydration or volume depletion ICD-9 diagnosis sub-codes of 276.50, 276.51, 276.52 were added to the ICD-9 trigger.
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November 1, 2005
 President Bush has Released National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza
The Bush Administration has released a comprehensive strategy for dealing with the potential of an Influenza Pandemic.
Click here for more information.