NP/PA's Resources

Your home for news, products, stories, and more specific to nurse practitioners and physician assistants practicing in post-acute and long-term care settings. 

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AMA Interim Meeting 2016 Report from the Society’s Delegate, Dr. Tangalos

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Medicaid, Palliative Care, Medication
November 18, 2016
The American Medical Association (AMA) interim meeting is devoted to advocacy. It remains a much-abbreviated meeting from the annual event held every June in Chicago. The Society had no resolutions to present at the recent interim meeting, held in...

September 23, 2016

Weekly Roundup
Advance Care Planning, End-of-Life Care, Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST), Long-Term Care, Post-Acute Care, Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Observation Status, Infections, Patient Centered, Payment, Coding, Reimbursement, & Documentation, Attending Physician, Certified Medical Director, Medical Director, Quality
September 23, 2016
Spotlight: Take the Challenge from Chris Laxton HPA: CMS Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative Models 2-4 Report Released, From the Hill: PAC Provider Groups Advocate for Changes to SNF VBP Other: Society Launches Vlog Read more .

New Guide Helps Nursing Homes Tackle Antimicrobial Stewardship

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Antibiotics/Antimicrobials
November 11, 2016
The HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has a new Nursing Home Antimicrobial Stewardship Guide , a research-based resource with step-by-step instructions and materials to help nursing homes improve antibiotic use and decrease harm...

Value Modifier: Informal Review Request Period Open Through November 30

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practice Management
November 11, 2016
The 2015 Annual Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) were released on September 26. These reports show how physician groups and physician solo practitioners performed in 2015 on the quality and cost measures used to calculate the 2017 Value...

2017 PQRS Results: Submit an Informal Review by November 30

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS)
November 11, 2016
In 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will apply a downward payment adjustment to those who did not satisfactorily report for the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) in 2015 including: Individual eligible...

Antipsychotic Drug use in Nursing Homes: Trend Update

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Dementia, Antipsychotics
November 4, 2016
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is tracking the progress of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes by reviewing publicly reported measures. The official measure is the percentage of long-stay...

CMS Releases 2017 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Medicare, Payment, Accountable Care Organization (ACO), Coding, Reimbursement, & Documentation, Physician Fee Schedule (PFS)
November 4, 2016
On November 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the 2017 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule that recognizes the importance of primary care by improving payment for chronic care management and behavioral health...

Webinar to Focus on Implementing, Sustaining Antibiotic Stewardship

Spotlight
Infections, Antimicrobial/Antibiotic Stewardship, C. difficile, Infection Prevention/Control, Antibiotics/Antimicrobials
November 4, 2016
“All of us need to undo some long-term brainwashing that makes people think that antibiotics can do everything or that they can’t hurt. We have to help people move from thinking about antibiotics as something to use ‘just in case’ to ‘only when...

Save the Date for CMS Training on Phase 1 Implementation of New Nursing Home Regulations

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Federal Regulations, F-Tags
October 28, 2016
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Survey & Certification memo noting the need to develop and provide training to LTC surveyors and providers, related to the new regulations. The training will contain information...

How to Report Across 2016 Medicare Quality Programs Call — November 1

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Practice Management, Electronic Health Records (EHR), Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS)
October 28, 2016
Tuesday, November 1 from 1:30 to 3 pm ET To register or for more information, visit MLN Connects® Event Registration . Space may be limited, register early. Learn how to report quality measures during the 2016 program year to maximize your...