LTC NAC Chat

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the Five-Star management challenges nurse assessment coordinators are facing today. Additional Resource: GG Trivia Games LTC NAC Chat – Five-Star Management Challenges NACS Are Facing - Full Transcript(intro music) Amy: Hello, thank you for joining LTC NAC Chat, a podcast brought to you by the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN). I'm your host, Amy Stewart, Chief Nursing Officer for AAPACN, and I'm here today with Jessie McGill, Senior Curriculum Development Specialist for AAPACN. Jessie joins us to discuss the Five-Star management challenges nurse assessment coordinators are facing today. Welcome, Jessie! Jessie: Thanks for having me today, Amy. Amy: Jessie, let's dive right in. In a recent survey in the AAPACN Leader for the NAC newsletter, members describe difficulty understanding how the different parts of Five-Star work together. What makes this system so challenging for NACs to interpret and manage? Jessie: That's a great question. One of the biggest challenges of Five-Star is that we have a lot of different data coming from different areas and using different time frames. So we have the health inspection domain, which uses the two most recent standard surveys, so it's looking at your health inspections, and 36 months of infection control and complaint surveys. So, we already have a couple different time frames just with health inspections and a couple different data points that are impacting your health inspection. For the staffing domain, this looks at the hours that the facility self-reports in the Payroll-Based Journal, and it looks at 12 months of data and it's updated quarterly. The quality measure domain is also updated quarterly and uses four full quarters of data but with a delay. And the quality measure domain pulls from different quality measures that are both MDS-based as well as a few claims-based measures. So, a couple different data points with quality measures also. For the NAC, one of the ways to look at Five-Star and hopefully make it a little less challenging is to understand that they're not the sole responsible person for managing all aspects of Five-Star. They may be highly involved with the understanding and reporting when it comes to the QM domain because most of the quality measures used for that domain are MDS-based. But that should be more to understand the underlying data and then working with your entire team to understand how the domains work together for your overall Five-Star rating. Amy: Thank you for that. Another challenge noted by the survey respondents was documentation, especially for section GG. How can NACs overcome documentation challenges and ensure accuracy when coding the MDS?" Jessie: Oh, GG always gives us so many challenges. When we look at section GG, we have essentially two different processes that are going on. The first is the underlying documentation. This is what's actually happening during those three-day windows for each of those episodes of care, whether it's with the CNAs, the nurse, or the therapy team. And then you have the second part, which is the review of all of that documentation during the three-day window to determine the resident's usual performance. And so we have to have two strong processes in place. First is a strong process for that underlying documentation. And the second is a strong process to determine usual performance. The underlying documentation requires that we have really consistent and ongoing education with the staff members who are going to be documenting or charting those GG tasks, such as: How did the resident eat? How did they transfer? How did they move from sitting to lying? How did they transfer into the bath? So for all of those different GG tasks, the direct care staff needs to understand the RAI User's Manual definition—what is included as well as what is not included? And also understanding the performance levels. So what is partial-moderate assist, what is substantial-max assist, as well as supervision or setup help only? So there's a lot that goes into those performance levels as well as the different tasks. Now, one of the cool things that AAPACN has is a GG Trivia Game, which we actually have two versions now. And the GG Trivia Game is an education tool, it’s free for members, that you can use with your direct care staff to help reinforce in a game fashion different GG tasks in the different performance levels. So, creating education that's fun is a great way to reinforce your other training. Another thing that we need to do with that direct care staff is we have to validate that what is being charted is accurate. So, that may include different types of audits or validation processes. One of my favorite ways to validate if the charting is accurate is to, especially during the lookback period for an MDS so that that really has a good impact on the accuracy of that assessment, is going out and watching how the resident performs tasks with the nurse aide and then looking at how they charted that specific task. If there were inconsistencies or inaccuracies with how it was charted, that gives you the opportunity to provide real-time education. And whenever you are learning and you can apply what you learned to something that you experience, that is a great way to reinforce that education. When it comes to the usual performance determination, I think one of the best things the teams can do is to make this a team process. Put together a collaborative team of your qualified clinicians that can review that charting documentation and help to make those decisions. Some of your charting is going to be very clear and you won't need to have that additional conversation of what is usual. So, for example, if a resident eats independently every day, every episode during that three-day window, their usual performance is independent. But if you have fluctuations, that is when your team will need to look at all of the documentation from therapy, direct care staff, everyone who is involved and had documentation to support the performance during that period and then make that determination of the resident's usual performance. When we tie that back to Five-Star and QMs, when we focus on not the outcome of those quality measures, but when we focus on the accuracy of section GG, that's what's going to give us an accurate MDS and accurate quality measures. Now, if we identify there is a process we need to work on such as towards that discharge function score or ADL decline, that's something that we need to address outside of MDS accuracy once we’ve validated that the MDS is accurate. So, a lot of moving pieces there, but education and the focus on MDS coding accuracy are your key ways to make sure GG is accurate. Amy: Thank you for that. Several respondents emphasized a lack of ownership and communication across the IDT and leadership. How can stronger collaboration among nurses, supervisors, the DNS, and other leaders support the NAC's Five-Star management efforts? Jessie: Oh, I love this question. It goes back to how complex Five-Star is and it's so complex that oftentimes no one wants to own it. As the NAC, a lot of times because this is a quality measurement program, you're highly involved in it. However, the Five-Star program should never be viewed solely as the NAC's responsibility. And for that matter, QMs should also not be viewed as solely the NAC's responsibility. The quality measures are really a measure of the care that we provide. And the MDS is just the messenger. So, it's the way that CMS collects the data in an organized way. To be successful with Five-Star with your quality measure programs, we can't have the focus just on the MDS or just on those outcomes. We actually have to look back at that root cause of why did that QM trigger? What was the event or the condition that allowed that quality measure to trigger? So, for example, if we have falls, pressure ulcers, if we have readmissions, or emergency department visits, the focus cannot just be on how is the MDS coded to capture that, but what systems and processes does the facility have in place to prevent the falls, to prevent pressure ulcer development, or to heal pressure ulcers timely, to ensure safe discharges home, to prevent rehospitalizations, to prevent unnecessary emergency department visits? And when we focus on the prevention, and we focus on the systems and processes that lead up to that quality measure being triggered, that's where we're going to see ongoing quality improvement efforts. And it really takes the entire facility and a facility culture of process improvement. When we tie Five-Star into that, the Five-Star data is old. It is how your facility performed, not how your facility is performing right now. So, while it's important to know what your Five-Star rating is because a lot of different consumers are looking at that—you might have hospital discharge planners that are looking at this and sharing this with potential referrals; you may have Medicare Advantage plans looking at this as part of their contracting; you may have other residents looking to come in from the community looking at Five-Star as part of their facility selection process. And that's just one piece of the overall puzzle of what your facility is and how you perform. And again, it's more historical data. So, when you have that opportunity to share what you're doing today for quality improvement, what goals you've achieved, what outcomes you've achieved that maybe aren't yet reflected in Five-Star is how you can really help your team and your leadership understand you

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, AAPACN Diamond Business Partner eBrief and Leigh Ann Frick, PT, MBA, RAC-CT, owner and president of Care Navigation Consulting LLC, discuss PDPM, incontinence, and the missing link between clinical management and reimbursement. Get Expert Insights—On Demand Don't wait to catch up on the latest changes impacting long-term care. Tune in for conversations with AAPACN experts and industry leaders covering MDS, reimbursement, quality measures, leadership, survey readiness, and more! Subscribe today and never miss an episode. Apple Podcast Android Email

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC, curriculum development specialists for AAPACN, discuss interrupted stays and the questions nurse assessment coordinators have about applying the interrupted stay policy in practice. Additional Resources: Interrupted Stay Flow Chart Interrupted Stay Tracker Tool Interrupted Stay Policy FAQs and Resources Get Expert Insights—On Demand Don't wait to catch up on the latest changes impacting long-term care. Tune in for conversations with AAPACN experts and industry leaders covering MDS, reimbursement, quality measures, leadership, survey readiness, and more! Subscribe today and never miss an episode. Apple Podcast Android Email

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode provided by AAPACN Diamond Business Partner, eBrief, Dr. Richard Stefanacci and Amy Chidester, MS, LNHA explore why one of the most common challenges in skilled nursing is often one of the least discussed.The conversation examines the connection between incontinence management, quality measures, and emerging technologies that are helping providers make more informed care decisions. Get Expert Insights—On Demand Don't wait to catch up on the latest changes impacting long-term care. Tune in for conversations with AAPACN experts and industry leaders covering MDS, reimbursement, quality measures, leadership, survey readiness, and more! Subscribe today and never miss an episode. Apple Podcast Android Email

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast, AAPACN Chief Nursing Officer Amy Stewart joins Jessie McGill and Jennifer LaBay to discuss AAPACN's advocacy efforts and how the association amplifies the voices of post-acute care professionals with policymakers.

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, continue to answer questions from the AAPACN webinar, Declutter Your Coding: Spring Cleaning Tips for ICD-10-CM Success in LTC, which was presented April 30, 2026. Declutter Your Coding: Spring Cleaning Tips for ICD-10-CM Success in LTC – April 30, 2026 – On-Demand Webinar Get Expert Insights—On Demand Don't wait to catch up on the latest changes impacting long-term care. Tune in for conversations with AAPACN experts and industry leaders covering MDS, reimbursement, quality measures, leadership, survey readiness, and more! Subscribe today and never miss an episode. Apple Podcast Android Email

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss getting to know your Medicare Administrative Contractor. Additional Resources: CMS MAC Webpage https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/medicare-administrative-contractors-macs/whats-mac Medicare A/B Jurisdictions https://www.cms.gov/files/document/ab-jurisdiction-map03282023pdf.pdf MAC Websites (Abbreviations to match what is on the map above) CGS Administrators, LLC (CGS) - https://cgsmedicare.com/ First Coast Service Options, Inc (FCSO) - https://www.fcso.com/ National Government Services (NGS) - https://www.ngsmedicare.com/NGS_LandingPage/ Noridian Healthcare Solutions - https://med.noridianmedicare.com/ Novitas Soultions, Inc. - https://www.novitas-solutions.com/webcenter/portal/NovitasSolutions Palmetto GBA, LLC - https://palmettogba.com/ Wisconsin Physician Services Government Health Administrators (WPS) - https://www.wpsgha.com/

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, sr. curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, share clarifications from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the Long-Stay Antipsychotic measure. Additional Resources: New Year, New Measure: Making Sense of the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Re-Specification – Jan. 29, 2026 – On-Demand Webinar Extended AAPACN Webinar Q&A: New Year, New Measure: Making Sense of the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Re-Specification – Podcast Long-Stay Antipsychotic Measure: Data Source and Look-Back Guide – Tool

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, give listeners an inside look at AAPACN’s brand new certification program, the Nursing Home Administrator—Certified (NHA-CT). Additional Resources: NHA-CT Free on-demand webinar about the NHA-CT One-page information sheet about NHA-CT

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, Jessie McGill, senior curriculum development specialist, and Jennifer LaBay, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss celebrating yourself on NAC Day, raising awareness of the NAC role, and supporting wellness and self-care. Additional Resources: Free Member Tools: At-a-Glance QM, QRP, and VBP Tool PDPM At-a-Glance Tool Education Programs for NACs: MDS Essentials PDPM Documentation Essentials for the IDT Medicare Basic Training RAC-CT RAC-CTA Timeline for AAPACN Education and Resources (Learning Ladder) Education Products for NACs: QM Survival Guide QM Rescue Guide PDPM Game Plan Informational Pages: Nurses Week The Executive Playbook: AI Strategies for Post-Acute Care Leaders

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Sarah Becker, RN, Director of Clinical Reimbursement for Proactive LTC Consulting, and Christine Twombly, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, CQP, CRC, break down the updated CMS guidance on Falls with Major Injury and what it means for MDS coding, Quality Measures, survey outcomes, and resident safety. Together, they simplify complex regulatory changes, clarify key definitions — including intercepted falls and pathological versus traumatic fractures — and walk through real-world examples to support accurate coding and interdisciplinary collaboration. The discussion also highlights the impact of these changes on Quality Measures and recent OIG findings on underreporting, along with practical strategies for improving compliance and reducing risk. To close, the team shares how strong QAPI processes can transform fall prevention efforts through trend analysis, individualized care planning, and system-wide improvement.

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss how to have a conversation about your quality measure outcomes with external parties. Additional Resources: QM Rescue Guide QM Survival Guide Multidisciplinary Management of Five-Star Quality Measures QAPI and Quality Initiatives – Find news updates and tips on quality measures, articles and podcasts to review, tools to streamline processes, and more

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss recent Five-Star and quality measure changes. Additional Resources: New Year, New Measure: Making Sense of the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Re-Specification – Jan. 29, 2026 Extended AAPACN Webinar Q&A: New Year, New Measure: Making Sense of the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Re-Specification Quality Measure IQ Series: The Re-Specified Long-Stay Antipsychotic Measure Long-Stay Antipsychotic Measure: Data Source and Look-Back Guide

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how directors of nursing services and administrators can strengthen their partnership, improve communication, and navigate the daily operational and clinical pressures that shape long-term and post-acute care leadership. Additional Resource: AAPACN 2026 Conference

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Janine Lehmen, director of clinical and legal nursing consulting with Proactive LTC Consulting, discuss Lehman’s AAPACN 2026 Conference session on Wednesday, March 18 at 2 pm ET, “The MDS in Court - How Does Yours Standup?” Additional Resource: AAPACN 2026 Conference

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, sr. curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, continue the question and answer session from McGill’s recent webinar, New Year, New Measure: Making Sense of the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Re-Specification, hosted on Jan. 29, 2026. Additional Resources: New Year, New Measure: Making Sense of the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Re-Specification – Jan. 29, 2026 CMS Quality Measures Webpage

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss some of the highlights of LaBay’s AAPACN conference session, “Express Pass to Precision: Tackling Tricky ICD-10-CM Scenarios in Long-Term Care.” Additional Resources: AAPACN 2026 Conference 2026 ICD-10 CM Files

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the self-perception of those working as the role of the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) and how they can feel more respected in their job.

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss falls with major injury and a sneak peek into McGill’s breakout session at the AAPACN 2026 Conference. Additional Resources: AAPACN 2026 Conference Long-Stay Nursing Home – Falls with Major Injury Respecification: Technical Specification Report New Year, New Measure: Making Sense of the Long-Stay Antipsychotic Re-Specification – AAPACN Webinar

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN discuss when and why the SNF Advanced Beneficiary Notice should be used. Beneficiary Notice Guidelines Tool Simplifying the SNF ABN: Helping Residents Understand Their Options

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, AAPACN staff, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist, share some of the highlights for the AAPACN 2026 Conference in Orlando, Florida that will be held March 17 – 20, 2026. Additional Resources: AAPACN 2026 Conference webpage

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss recent changes to section GG in the RAI User’s Manual.

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, answer some follow-up questions from the recent AAPACN webinar, “Ready or Not: Oct. 1, 2025 MDS Changes,” hosted on Sept. 18, 2025. Additional Resources: Ready or Not: Preparing for the Oct. 1, 2025, MDS Changes – Sept. 18 2025

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss some of the unexpected changes released in the final draft of the RAI User’s Manual version 1.20.1, which went into effect this October 1. Additional Resources: AAPACN Resources to Help Prepare for Oct. 1, 2025, MDS Changes

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss AAPACN’s latest education program, PDPM Documentation Essentials for the IDT. Additional Resources: PDPM Documentation Essentials for the IDT MDS Essentials PDPM At-a-Glance

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss a new way for NACs to test their knowledge – the NAC Competency Evaluation.Additional Resources: NAC Competency Evaluation NAC Competency Evaluation Guide NAC Competency Evaluation Instructional Video

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss key findings from the 2025 AAPACN NAC Work Study and Salary Report. Additional Resources: Nurse Assessment Coordinator FTE Calculator Tool 2025 AAPACN NAC Work Study and Salary Report 2025 NAC Work Study and Salary Report: Support NACs and Determine FTE Needs

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss the MDS changes coming this fall and what we know right now. Additional Resource: Quality Virtual Conference

In this LTC NAC Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss the Medicare appeals process in skilled nursing facilities. Additional Resources: RAC-CTA - Medical Reviews and Oversight for the Advanced Medicare Specialist - Online + PDF – AAPACN On-Demand Course Medicare Basic Training Part 9: Beneficiary Notices Initiative On-Demand Workshop – AAPACN Training Medicare Basic Training Part 10: Medical Review and Appeals On-Demand Workshop – AAPACN Training Original Medicare (Parts A and B Fee-for-Service) Initial Determination/Appeals Process – CMS Flow Chart Beneficiary Notices Initiative – CMS Forms and Instructions for Notices CMS Levels of Appeal – Website Reference

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss the sequencing of ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding.Additional Resources: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting AAPACN Articles:  Deep Dive into ICD-10-CM: Diagnosis Sequencing Guidelines How to Use the ICD-10-CM Coding Manual ICD-10-CM: Navigating the Term “With,” Combination Codes, and Complications of Care Updates to ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines: Key Revisions and Their Implications ​​​​​​​AAPACN Education: ICD-10-CM Coding Certificate Program for SNFs RAC-CT – Introduction to ICD-10-CM Coding for Long-Term Care ​​​​​​​AAPACN Tool: Provider ICD-10-CM Documentation Tip Sheet for Long-Term CareThis AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN individual members may download or print one copy for use within their facility only. AAPACN facility organizational members have unlimited use only within facilities included in their organizational membership. Violation of AAPACN copyright may result in membership termination and loss of all AAPACN certification credentials. Learn more.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss the new Appendix PP updates related to admission, transfer, and discharge going into effect April 28, 2025. Additional Resources: Appendix PP Regulatory Updates – 2025 F-Tag Library On-Demand Series CMS Nursing Homes Webpage – LTC Survey Pathways can be found in the Survey Resources ZIP file under the Downloads section

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss ways nurse assessment coordinators can advance their Quality Measures knowledge. Additional Resources:Quality Measure IQ Series: Pressure Ulcer Measures – ArticleQuality Measure IQ Series: Discharge Function Score Measure – ArticleQuality Measure IQ Series: Long-Stay Falls Measures – ArticleJanuary 2025 Five-Star Unfreeze: What to Expect – PodcastAt-a-Glance QM, QRP, and VBP Tool – ToolWhen MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Triggers Start and Stop – ToolFive-Star and Care Compare MDS 3.0 Quality Measure Data Periods – ToolQuality Measures Survival Guide – ProductQuality Measures Rescue Guide – Product

In this podcast, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, address some of the questions that were asked during the AAPACN Webinar, “SNF ABN, NOMNC, DENC – What Has Changed for this Alphabet Soup of Notices” held January 30, 2025. Additional Resources: SNF ABN, NOMNC, DENC – What Has Changed for This Alphabet Soup of Notices? – Jan. 30, 2025 Beneficiary Notice Guidelines Tool

In this podcast, Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, discuss self-care and the importance of taking a break.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss a new method for auditing the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM).  Additional Resource:PDPM Audit by MDS Section

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, senior curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss what to expect this January when Five-Star unfreezes several quality measures.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialists with AAPACN, discuss best practices to prepare for an AAPACN certification. Additional Resources: Resident Assessment Coordinator—Certified (RAC-CT®) Resident Assessment Coordinator—Certified Advanced (RAC-CTA®) QAPI Certified Professional (QCP®) Director of Nursing Services—Certified (DNS-CT®) Candidate Handbooks

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how conducting a thorough candidate interview can help to improve staff retention in skilled nursing facilities as well as a resource from AAPACN to assist with this process. Additional Resources: Interview Template Tool

In this podcast, AAPACN Curriculum Development Specialists, Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA and Jennifer LaBay RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, discuss a few of the questions asked during the recent AAPACN webinar, “How to Prepare for FY 2025 ICD-10 Updates,” held on Sept. 12, 2024. Additional Resources: How to Prepare for FY 2025 ICD-10 Updates – Sept. 12, 2024

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how a comprehensive review of whole systems can help to improve Quality Measure outcomes in skilled nursing facilities and how a new resource from AAPACN can assist with this process.  Additional Resources:   QM Rescue Guide  QM Survival Guide

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss Quality Measures and some fundamentals about exclusions. Additional Resources: QM Survival Guide

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Dr. Devin Jopp, EdD, chief executive officer for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), discuss the role of the infection preventionist in long-term care and how this respiratory season may impact the infection preventionist’s workload. Additional Resources: APIC website, find prep courses and more APIC Staffing Calculator APIC Infection Preventionist Career Development and Advancement Guide CBIC Associate - Infection Prevention and Control (a-IPC ™) CBIC Certification in Infection Control (CIC®) – after 2 years of experience CBIC Long-Term Care Certification in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP®)

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss documentation and monitoring for a skilled stay. Additional Resources: Skilled or Not? Tool Medicare Basic Training Skilled AAPACN resources

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Maureen McCarthy, RN, BS, RAC-MT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, RAC-MTA, president and CEO of Celtic Consulting, and AAPACN board member, dispel some common myths and concerns related to Medicare Advantage plan management in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), the beneficiary notices initiative process, and implementing the 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialists for AAPACN, discuss AAPACN tools that make the nurse assessment coordinator’s (NAC’s) job easier. Additional Resources: At-a-Glance QM, QRP, and VBP Tool PDPM At-a-Glance Tool Skilled or Not? Tool – REVISED MDS Data Collection for the NAC Tool Section GG Data Collection Tool OBRA Scheduling Tools for Calendar Year 2026 Beneficiary Notice Guidelines Tool MDS Daily Startup for the NAC Backup Tool AAPACN Free-Member Tools webpage

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss key insights to determine section GG usual performance.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss strategies for simplifying the care plan process. Additional Resource: Baseline Care Plan Tool

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the common challenges nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) face with care area assessments (CAAs) and how they can get back on track.

In this podcast, Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss a few outstanding questions that members asked during the recent AAPACN webinar, Keep Quality Measures Hot During the Five-Star Freeze.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, Marti Wdowicki, PharmD, director of clinical operations for PharMerica, and Jeff Herr, PharmD, manager of clinical operations in the West for PharMerica, discuss a pharmacist’s perspective on coding section N of the MDS, what an indication of use is versus the diagnosis, and ways nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) can improve coding accuracy for this section.