Have a question for Karen?  Contact her today.

Ratings Can Change …Even When Your Reported Data Hasn’t
While the CMS 5-Star Rating System is a step in the right direction, it has some of the same problems as other consumer ratings systems. Though designed to make choosing a nursing home easier, the 5-Star System tends to oversimplify a very complex issue. That could lead to snap judgments that might not take all relevant considerations into account. And ratings can change…even when your reported data hasn’t. Yet families are depending on it to guide their long term care (LTC) choice. Truth is, most people glance at a one- or two-star rating and move on.  Shop now >

Increase Revenue by Improving Your 5-Star Rating
“Long Term Care (LTC) providers have a choice: view Five-Star as an additional restraint and challenge,  or see it as an opportunity to increase revenue (through more accurate documentation, increased reimbursements and more residents), promote improved care, and create positive consumer and public perceptions about—and experiences with—their facility.” --The CMS Five Star Rating System: Friend or Foe?; PentaStar Collaborative, [2009]

Briggs’ Offers Best-in-Class Solutions for Accurate Documentation, Staff Education and Training, and More
Having spent years as a director of nursing in a nursing home, I completely understand the frustrations with CMS’ 5-Star rating system. But since it’s not going away, it’s vital that you respond proactively. Improving the accuracy of your documentation will improve your quality measures (QMs). In turn, that will contribute to higher reimbursements and more residents. In an industry that’s already squeezed for time, improving quality measures can be intimidating. That’s why I was thrilled when my employer committed resources to help nursing homes navigate their way to more stars in QM measures (which, along with health inspections and staffing, contribute to that overall star rating).  Shop now >

Q:  What’s a star worth?
A:  10+ empty beds = close to $1,000,000 lost!
Some estimates put the value of one resident at $75,000 annually. At that rate, 13.3 empty beds would equal $1 million in lost annual revenue. And in urban areas, facilities that consistently miss budgeted Medicare census by 2 residents per day would lose approximately $269,379 per year. Here are other concerning factors--lender and insurer monitoring of ratings.

As Linda Williams, Sr. LTC Risk Manager for GuideOne Insurance explains: “Just like consumers, most insurance carriers that provide coverage for nursing homes across the country use a variety of reports to analyze their risks, including the CMS’ 5-Star Rating System report. Low ratings can prompt an underwriter to ask more questions and probe more into the operations of a facility to see if the issues are valid. Increased scrutiny can mean more time spent on answering questions and defending your facility against these reports during the quote or renewal process.”

Now is the Time to Improve Your Quality Measures Rating
The loss of revenue from empty beds could worsen due to future legislation, so now is the time to take steps to improve your ratings. Other trends in LTC underscore the importance of improving your QMs now. For example, more patients are choosing to stay at home or in assisted living situations rather than in nursing homes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10.2% of U.S. residents aged 75 and older lived in nursing homes in 1990. By 2006, that number had dropped to 7.4%.

More Stars = Higher Census = Greater Revenue
The faster you improve your ratings, the faster you’ll see an improvement in census and revenue. You’ll see the precise solutions needed for each of the 10 QM measures included in the rating system:

• For short-stay residents: pressure sores, pain and delirium
• For long-term residents: ADL’s, immobility, pressure sores, catheter, physically restrained, urinary tract infection and pain
• Shop now >

Briggs Forms are Recognized as Best-of-Class
Briggs forms integrate industry best practices, and have been recognized by customers as best-of-class and always up to date with current federal regulations. If it’s staff training you need, Briggs offers training and education materials covering a vast array of subject matter, including competency testing, restorative care, pressure ulcers and incontinence. They’re timesavers, and they’re excellent tools to boost quality care for patients...and boost your QM star rating. Shop now >

Sincerely yours,
Karen Merk, RN, B.S., CRNAC
Clinical Consultant, Senior Living

P.S. Contact Karen today with your questions.  Remember, the nursing homes that will survive will be those who proactively respond to CMS’ Five-Star Rating System. Use the best solutions and be on your way to improving quality measures and profitability. Don’t wait a single day—view the products now.