Welcome to the HealthPRO Heritage Blog

HHS Announcement: More Provider Relief Funding Available

Posted on: October 9, 2020

HHS announced $20 billion in new funding for providers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. This Phase 3 distribution was made possible through the bipartisan CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (which allocated $175 billion in relief funds to hospitals, skilled nursing, home health and other healthcare providers.) Skilled nursing & home health providers and others who have received Provider Relief Fund payments (and some who were previously ineligible providers) are invited to apply for additional funding to cover operating expenses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Tags: snf, senior living, LTC, Home Health, CMS Update 2020, COVID-19

Why are COVID-19 Cases Rising in SNFs?

Posted on: August 20, 2020

Recent data trends suggest that – although SNF teams are well-trained on infection control protocols – COVID-19 infections continue to spread. Even SNFs with high marks on infection prevention surveys are experiencing a rise in cases.
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Tags: skilled nursing facility, snf, COVID-19

For SNFs Nationwide: An Escalation in COVID-19 Cases

Posted on: August 17, 2020

During a special CMS call for nursing homes on August 13, CMS' Seema Verma reported some grim facts. With the increasing spread of the virus in communities throughout the country, COVID-19 cases in SNFs are also on the rise. With more than 12,000 cases in SNFs and an increasing number of deaths, CMS estimates that 50% of SNFs have at least one COVID-19 case.

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Tags: skilled nursing facility, CMS, snf, COVID-19

New Funding Options for SNFs in light of COVID-19

Posted on: August 13, 2020

Did you know CMS has recently published two new options for Skilled Nursing Facilities to obtain additional Covid-19 funding?

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Tags: snf, COVID-19

What Does Medicare's Final Rule for FY21 Mean for SNFs?

Posted on: August 3, 2020

With our industry’s focus on the COVID-19 public health emergency, this year’s Final Rule addresses essential policies only, while incorporating some impactful PDPM updates. There is a strong theme emphasizing a continued commitment to keeping providers connected through electronic means to promote the exchange and reuse of patient assessment data. The MDS is at the top of that list with discharge information being critical to ensure necessary medical information is shared and transferred among post hospital settings. The MDS will not have the anticipated major over haul until 2 years from the end of the Public Health Emergency, likely October 2022. This is good news for interdisciplinary teams that have been adjusting to many related changes and communication methods. Accuracy and collaboration remain critical for the current environment as well as future changes.

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Tags: CMS, snf, SNF Operators, PDPM, CMS Update 2020

Measuring Success & Emerging Trends Under PDPM

Posted on: November 7, 2019

We all survived the PDPM transition on October 1. Now what?

As the dust settles, SNFs may be wrestling with an important question: How will the industry define and measure success under PDPM & Beyond?

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Tags: snf, Patient-Driven Payment Model, PDPM

Finger on the Pulse: Initial Reactions to PDPM & Updates from the Front Line

Posted on: October 15, 2019

Gut-Check Survey Results + Feedback from the PDPM Front Line
HealthPRO Heritage launched a survey – “PDPM Gut-Check” – to capture how the industry is feeling about the new reimbursement system.  Here’s what you and your peers had to say.

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Tags: snf, Patient-Driven Payment Model, PDPM, CMS Update 2019

An Industry Gut-Check: What's Your PDPM Confidence Level?

Posted on: October 1, 2019

Now is the time for our industry to over-communicate!  Put your two cents in, and learn more about what your peers are thinking, feeling, and what’s keeping them up at night, too. 

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Tags: snf, Skilled Therapy, Patient-Driven Payment Model, PDPM, CMS Update 2019