C.A.R.E.

Compliance • Audits/Analysis • Reimbursement/Regulatory/Rehab • Education/Efficiency

“Childhood Trauma leads to a Shorter Lifespan.”

Thank you for all the comments and notes on the Medicare Minutes. Many of you are seeking more information on Trauma Informed Care. As I have said since the draft RoP Requirements of Participationwas published, (I read it in a Cambridge Massachusetts Hotel while my daughter Savannah wrote her college application essays), CMS is on top of their game and ahead of the curve.

The Skilled Nursing Industry is working diligently to understand how to provide care to an individual with Trauma. Trauma can be caused by a multitude of events within a lifetime. However, it is prudent to educate staff on root causes from childhood events.

C.A.R.E.

Compliance • Audits/Analysis • Reimbursement/Regulatory/Rehab • Education/Efficiency

Question 3 of 9: In a patient with a hip fracture, is there a need to code “muscle weakness",“difficulty walking” listed by PTs? These diagnoses are usually not listed/signed by a physician.

“Physical therapy services are those services provided within the scope of practice of physical therapists and necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of impairments, functional limitations, disabilities or changes in physical function and health status.” 230.1 - Practice of Physical Therapy, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 15 – Covered Medical and Other Health Services.

C.A.R.E.

Compliance • Audits/Analysis • Reimbursement/Regulatory/Rehab • Education/Efficiency

Medicare Minute with Kris Mastrangelo: Payroll-based Journal (PBJ)

In today's Medicare Minute Kris Mastrangelo, President and CEO of Harmony Healthcare International (HHI), discusses Payroll-based Journal also known as PBJ.   Did you know that your Payroll-based Journal data is due to CMS on February 14, 2020?  Before you submit your data make sure you verify it for accuracy.  Watch today's video for a few more suggestions regarding the submission of your PBJ data.  As always, we encourage you to share your comments and thoughts!

C.A.R.E.

Compliance • Audits/Analysis • Reimbursement/Regulatory/Rehab • Education/Efficiency

Medicare Minute with Kris Mastrangelo: CMS Abuse Icon

In today's Medicare Minute Kris Mastrangelo, President and CEO of Harmony Healthcare International (HHI), discusses the new abuse icon that CMS began using in October 2019.   The long-term care industry has pushed for the icon's removal or modification due to several issues.  Watch the video to learn more about the issues regarding the new icon and don't forget to leave your comments and thoughts!

C.A.R.E.

Compliance • Audits/Analysis • Reimbursement/Regulatory/Rehab • Education/Efficiency

Question 2 of 9: If the main reason for intensive rehab is because the resident is debilitated from being ill can I use the rehab treatment code that maps from CMS as the primary in I0020B?

The Harmony HealthCARE Specialist recommends that the Rehabilitation treatment codes should not be coded in 10020B if they are symptoms codes, return to provider codes and do not represent the primary reason for the SNF stay.  However, they do support the need for therapy and should be reported in other areas of the MDS.

C.A.R.E.

Compliance • Audits/Analysis • Reimbursement/Regulatory/Rehab • Education/Efficiency

Question 1 of 9: Should the NTA diagnosis be listed on the UB?

Harmony Healthcare International (HHI) recommends that all active NTA diagnoses be included and properly sequenced on the UB-04 for the time period covered by the claim.  For MDS purposes, an active diagnosis is defined as one that has a direct relationship to the patient's functional status, cognitive status, mood and behavior status, nurse monitoring, medical treatment or risk of death. 

C.A.R.E.

Compliance • Audits/Analysis • Reimbursement/Regulatory/Rehab • Education/Efficiency

Medicare Minute with Kris Mastrangelo: Nurses Rule the World

In today's Medicare Minute Kris Mastrangelo, President and CEO of Harmony Healthcare International (HHI), explains one of her most well-known mantras.  Watch the video to find out why she, as an occupational therapist, believes "Nurses Rule the World".

C.A.R.E.

Compliance • Audits/Analysis • Reimbursement/Regulatory/Rehab • Education/Efficiency

Interview with Tony Marshall, President of the Georgia Health Care Facility GHCA

Kris Mastrangelo, President and CEO at Harmony Healthcare International (HHI), interviews Tony Marshall, President of the Georgia Health Care Association (GHCA), in the AHCA Provider Lounge.  Tony discusses everything from the PDPM transition to workforce challenges facing Georgia health care providers.   Voted one of the best places to do business, Georgia faces a unique challenge when it comes to long-term care staffing.  With businesses constantly creating new jobs that offer higher paying wages and easier workloads it's often hard for long-term care providers to compete for new staff, especially at the CNA level.  In order to help providers secure staff, Georgia Health Care Association has paired up with several career academies in hopes of promoting long-term care professions to a younger audience.

C.A.R.E.

Compliance • Audits/Analysis • Reimbursement/Regulatory/Rehab • Education/Efficiency

Medicare Minute with Kris Mastrangelo: Top 4 Tags for Trauma-Informed Care

In today's Medicare Minute Kris Mastrangelo, President and CEO of Harmony Healthcare International (HHI), discusses Trauma-Informed Care.  Do you know the top 4 Tags associated with Trauma-Informed Care? Watch the video to find out!  

C.A.R.E.

Compliance • Audits/Analysis • Reimbursement/Regulatory/Rehab • Education/Efficiency

Jessica Pellegrino Tsoukalas, Director of Business Development and Strategy at Bridgeway Healthcare Discusses the Key to Recruiting and Retaining SNF Staff

Kris Mastrangelo, President and CEO at Harmony Healthcare International (HHI), interviews Jessica Pellegrino Tsoukalas, Director of Business Development and Strategy at Bridgeway Senior Healthcare (NJ) , in the AHCA Provider Lounge.   Jessica says that one of the biggest challenges facing Bridgeway is workforce recruitment and retention.  Located in a zip code with six other skilled nursing facilities, Bridgeway has obvious competition when it comes to attracting ideal employees.  With this in mind, Jessica and her team take a creative approach when it comes to staffing.  Among other incentives, Bridgeway Healthcare offers employees on-site housing.  Additionally, Bridgeway utilizes employee surveys to get real-time feedback on a regular basis.  Watch the video to learn more about Bridgeway Healthcare and their unique approach to staff recruitment and retainment.