Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

LONG-TERM CARE:

Hello QIO? Providers Can Profit From A Call

'8th Scope Of Work' now underway.

Providers that are looking for a way to edge ahead of the long-term care competition should consider calling their state's quality improvement organization this month.

Aug. 1 marked the starting date for the so-called "8th Scope of Work" between the QIOs and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, notes Pauline Kinney, a spokesperson for IPRO, a QIO with headquarters in Lake Success, NY.

Although QIOs will continue to work with nursing homes and other health care providers much as they did under earlier contracts with CMS, the new two-year phase brings new opportunities.

Hot spots: The quality organizations are working now to recruit new nursing homes interested in improving the quality of care they offer in the areas of

pressure ulcers,
physical restraints and
management of depressive symptoms. Pain Management Quality Improvement Possible Some QIOs also offer nursing-home partners the chance to focus quality improvement work on pain management. In addition, the QIOs are looking for nursing facilities interested in applying principles of culture change - or resident-directed care - as a means to improve nursing home services, notes Cherry Meier of VITAS Healthcare Corp. in Austin, TX.
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