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Category Archives: CMS Memo

Which Employees Must be Reported on the CMS Long Term Care Facility Application for Medicare and Medicaid?

The Section for Long-Term Care Regulation has received questions regarding which facility staff must be reported on the CMS-671 Long Term Care Facility Application For Medicare and Medicaid form. 

Only facility staff should be reported on the CMS 671.  Homes should not report hours for feeding assistants, hospice staff (even if the company is owned by the corporation) or private-duty aides that are paid by the residents’ family. 

If the facility director of nursing or administrator worked 90-hours during the last two weeks, then it should be reported as such.  Always report actual hours worked. 

Contract staff should also be reported.  The form instructions state:  “Contract includes individuals under contract, (e.g., a physical therapist) as well as organizations under contract (e.g., an agency to provide nurses).” 

For nursing homes that are not fully certified, report staffing hours for certified beds only.  The form instructions state:  “For the purpose of this form ‘the facility’ equals certified beds (i.e. Medicare and/or Medicaid certified beds).”  

Please note that staffing hours included in the Five-Star Quality Rating System are obtained from the CMS 671 application at the time of facility recertification. 

It is important to report staffing hours accurately.  Certain CMS programs and reports are dependent upon the data homes report.  If you have any questions, you may contact Joan Brundick, State RAI Coordinator at 573-751-6308 or send an email to joan.brundick@health.mo.gov. 

The CMS 671 form is available online: http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms-Items/CMS006581.html.

Posted on Jan 11, 2013

CMS Reminder: Revisions to Forms 672 and 802

Effective December 1, 2012 CMS instructed surveyors to return to the “Traditional Survey Process” of reviewing Quality Measures during offsite preparation.  

This change also implemented the use of the new “Form CMS 802 (04/12) ROSTER/SAMPLE MATRIX” and “Form CMS-802P (04/12) ROSTER/SAMPLE MATRIX INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROVIDERS.”  

This change has also implemented instructional updates to “Form CMS 672 (05/12) RESIDENT CENSUS AND CONDITIONS OF RESIDENTS.”  

If your facility automates forms from the MDS software, please ensure to present the new forms to the facility surveyors.  You may need to contact your vendor if your software does not generate the new forms.  

Facilities are required to utilize the new forms.  Upon survey entrance, surveyors will provide the administrator with the forms to be completed.  The new forms are also available for download online:  www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms-List.html.

Posted on Jan 07, 2013

Hand in Hand: A Free Training Series for Nursing Homes

Person-Centered Care of Persons with Dementia and Prevention of Abuse

CMS MEMO SC12-44 Hand in Hand-A Training Series for Nursing Homes 09-14-12

Reminder from CMS – Toolkits provided at no charge

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been made aware that some nursing homes may be returning Hand in Hand because they believe they will be charged money to keep it.  These Toolkits will be distributed FREE to all nursing homes, CMS Regional Offices and State Survey Agencies by January 2013. 

Section 6121 of the Affordable Care Act requires CMS to ensure that nurse aides receive regular training on caring for residents with dementia and on preventing abuse.  CMS, supported by a team of instructional designers and subject matter experts, created Hand in Hand, the training you will be receiving soon, to address the annual requirement for nurse aide training on these important topics. 

Our mission is to provide nursing homes with one option for a high-quality program that emphasizes person-centered care for persons with dementia and also addresses prevention of abuse.  Person-centered care is about seeing the person first, not as a task to be accomplished or a condition to be managed.  It is the fulfillment of the Nursing Home Reform Law to consider each resident’s individual preferences, needs, strengths, and lifestyle in order to provide the optimum quality of care and quality of life for each person. 

The Hand in Hand training materials consist of an orientation guide and six one-hour video-based modules, each of which has a DVD and an accompanying instructor guide.  Though Hand in Hand is targeted to nurse aides, it has real value for all nursing home caregivers, administrative staff, and anyone who touches the lives of nursing home residents.  Thank you for your commitment to encouraging the use of available materials such as Hand in Hand for the required annual training for nurse aides.  We anticipate that these enhanced training programs will enable you to continuously improve dementia care and prevent abuse, as well as enhance resident and staff satisfaction in your community. 

While annual training for nurse aides on dementia care and abuse prevention is required in current nursing home regulations, we do not require nursing homes to use the Hand in Hand training specifically.  Other tools and resources are also available.  For information, to download the training modules or inquire about replacement copies of the Hand in Hand Toolkit please visit www.cms-handinhandtoolkit.info/Index.aspx.

If you have questions or comments regarding these materials, please contact: cms_training_support@icpsystems.com.

Posted on Nov 30, 2012

Quality Measures

CMS has directed that by no later than December 1, 2012, state survey agencies must start using Quality Measures and the new forms CMS-802 Roster/Sample Matrix and CMS-672 Resident Census and Conditions of Residents during the traditional survey process.  The CMS memo Ref: S&C: 12-45-NH dated September 27, 2012 Advance Copy of Interim Guidance – Revisions to the State Operations Manual (SOM) Appendix P is available here:  http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Policy-and-Memos-to-States-and-Regions-Items/Survey-and-Cert-Letter-12-45.html.

Posted on Nov 19, 2012

Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes

(Person-Centered Care of Persons with Dementia and Prevention of Abuse)

S&C: 12-44-NH  09.14.12

CMS Memorandum Summary

The Affordable Care Act:  Section 6121 requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure that nurse aides receive regular training on how to care for residents with dementia and on preventing abuse.  CMS created this training program to address the requirement for annual nurse aide training on these important topics.

Course Content:  The Hand in Hand training materials consist of an orientation guide and six one-hour video-based modules, each of which has a DVD and an accompanying instructor guide.  Though Hand in Hand is targeted to nurse aides, it may be valuable to all nursing home caregivers, administrative staff and surveyors.

Please review the CMS Memo here:  CMS MEMO SC12-44 Hand in Hand-A Training Series for Nursing Homes 09-14-12

Posted on Sep 14, 2012