News & Publications

Updated Guidance F605: New CMS regulations ensure nursing home residents are protected from unnecessary psychotropic drugs.

New nursing home survey process raises compliance standards, emphasizing documentation and resident-centered care.

Why is RT an area that is often inadequately supported by the medical record, which risks issues with reimbursement and compliance?

Discover how to accurately determine Discharge Function Scores and improve clinical processes for better quality measure outcomes.

Judge strikes down nursing home staffing mandate, allowing flexible solutions and innovation in care quality.

Quality in Focus: Treatment and Services to Prevent/Heal Pressure Ulcers. A multidisciplinary approach for resident safety.

Under PDPM, the SLP Component is underutilized. Proper coding and training can enhance care and reimbursement in skilled nursing facilities.

Practical tips to tackle the top 3 challenges faced by staffing-strapped facilities during our mock surveys.

Revised Long-Term Care Surveyor Guidance Effective March 24, 2025

Using Quality in Focus as the foundation, Polaris Group highlights the nationwide Top Five Citations of 2024 and prevention tips.

Changes to four quality measures (QM) that will impact the QM domain of the Five-Star Quality Rating System in the January 2025 refresh.

Using Quality in Focus as the foundation, Polaris Group highlights FTag 582 Medicaid/Medicare Coverage/Liability Notice.

Surveyor updates coming in February, what you need to know.

F883 immunization deficiencies surged in 2024 mock surveys. What do know and what to do in order to align policies with CMS regulations.

Six points to consider while updating your facility assessment.

A focus on nutrition/hydration in LTC facilities post-COVID and recommendations on what to observe during meal service to improve compliance

Using Quality in Focus as the foundation, Polaris Group highlights FTag 684 Quality of Care, the third most frequently cited FTag in FY 2023

On July 31st revisions to 2025 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System, the QRP, SDOH, ICD-10 Code Mappings, and CMPs.

Six Steps to Ensure Compliance with F838 Facility Assessment. Revisions Effective 8.8.24. Are You Prepared?

Have you completed the updates effective August 9th, 2024? Does Your Staffing Plan Meet the Medically Complex Needs of Your Resident?

See how Mansion Nursing & Rehab achieved 100% assessment accuracy and increased its CMI by 12%.

With the release of the CMS mandate requiring the use of EBP in certain circumstances, we offer information related to common questions.

The rules address minimum staffing standards, as well and Medicaid and Managed Care access.

Explore Resident Assessment F-Tags, briefly covering various items to ensure compliance.

Effective April 1st, surveyors will evaluate the use of EBP, Polaris Group suggests the implementation of 5 processes to avoid citations.

A systematic review of 4 areas (grooming, nutrition, assistance with bathroom, assistance with transport) to ensure compliance with F677.

Using Quality in Focus as the foundation, Polaris Group highlights best practices to help mitigate penalties and citations.

A high-level overview of upcoming MDS modifications as well as ways to prepare.

Six questions to ensure your grievance process meets regulations.

F689 Falls – Are You Proactive or Reactive?

Learn about the 7 measures your community can utilize to reduce the risk of a F695 citation.

Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) is a two-in-one approach read below to see how it can help your community.

Avoid a F921 citation by promoting a comfortable, clean, and safe environment in your facility.

How facilities can avoid a F909 citation through bed audits, understanding and training around zones of entrapment, and more.

Facilities can avoid a F812 citation with proper food safety, sanitation practices, and documentation.

Use this checklist to help prepare your facility for MDS 3.0

Section O changes will impact how you code treatments, procedures, and programs residents received or performed during assessment periods.

Facilities can avoid a F689 citation with accident prevention, resident and environment supervision, and maintaining devices and equipment.

The impact of staffing shortages could impact your survey results -delays in timely completion, questionable citations, and more.

Section K in MDS 3.0 has wording clarifications and revisions to data elements and assessment steps.

Polaris Group will enable MatrixCare customers to utilize remote MDS coordinators to improve MDS assessment execution.

Surveyors are increasingly focused on infection control. Read more to learn how you can prepare your facility.

The Resident Mood Interview will be modified to the PHQ-2 to 9 with the new MDS 3.0. Use the Total Severity Score to enhance care planning.

This blog is part of Polaris Group's Decoding the MDS 3.0 series which explores changes to the new MDS, launching October 1, 2023.

This blog is part of Polaris Group's Decoding the MDS 3.0 series which will explore the changes occurring in specific MDS sections.

On October 1, 2023 the new MDS 3.0 goes into effect, presenting major changes to how care is documented and coded.

Facilities need to focus on the safety of outside food brought into the facility by visitors.

Ongoing training is key to ensure competent staff, volunteers, and students who can provide the best care to residents.

Learn how Peachtree Hills Place achieved a deficiency-free state survey using an expert outsourced MDS Coordinator.

Prepare for upcoming October changes to the nursing home surveyor process by reviewing these 13 key questions.

A case study on how Covenant Living Communities and Services benefited from Polaris Group's Offsite MDS Coordinator Program.

FTag citations have changed dramatically during COVID-19. Learn about the 10 most frequently cited and how to stay in compliance.