News & Publications

As long-term care specialists, our unique resources and capabilities have enabled our clients to excel for over 30 years.
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Consulting

‘Take a Deep Breath,’ and Be Confident Your Respiratory Therapy Program is Revenue Enhancing and Compliant

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

Quality Measure Drill Down: Discharge Function Score

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

BREAKING NEWS: Judge Strikes Down Nursing Home Staffing Rule in Major Victory

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

FTag 686 Treatment and Services to Prevent/Heal Pressure Ulcers

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

Optimizing Outcomes: The SLP Component in PDPM and Why All the Pieces Matter

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

Did the Recent Refresh Drop Your Star Rating?

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Consulting

FTag 725 Sufficient Nursing Staff

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

In Like a Lamb, Out Like a Lion - Revised Long-Term Care Surveyor Guidance

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

2024 In Review: The Top 5 FTag Citations

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

CMS Releases Updated Five-Star Technical Users' Guide Effective January 2025

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

FTag 582 – Changes Effective January 1, 2025

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

Revised Long Term Care Surveyor Guidance - CMS News Release 11/18/24

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

FTag 883 – Ensuring Immunization Compliance

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

It's Time for Flu Vaccines

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Consulting

Understanding FTag 838: Key Updates and Best Practices

Six points to consider while updating your facility assessment.
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Consulting

FTag 692 Nutrition/Hydration Status Maintenance

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

FTag 684 Quality of Care

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

Five Updates to Know from CMS’ FY 2025 Final Rule for Skilled Nursing Facilities

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

Six Steps to Ensure Compliance with F838 Facility Assessment

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

Changes to FTag 838 Facility Assessment

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

Outsourced and Remote MDS Coordinator Improves Mansion Nursing & Rehabilitation’s Reimbursement Accuracy

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

F880 Infection Prevention and Control

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

CMS Releases Final Rules Related to Nursing Home Reform Package

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

Ensuring Quality Care Through Comprehensive Assessments

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

CMS issues new mandate under F880 Infection Prevention and Control effective April 1. Are you prepared?

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

F677: ADL Care for Dependent Residents

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

F699- Trauma Informed Care

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

MDS Changes Coming in October 2024 – What to Expect and How to Prepare

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

F585 Grievances

Six questions to ensure your grievance process meets regulations.
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Consulting

F689: Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices

F689 Falls – Are You Proactive or Reactive?
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Consulting

F695 Respirator/Tracheostomy Care and Suctioning

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

Five Practicalities You Need to Know About Your QAPI Program

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

F921 Safe/Functional/Sanitary/Comfortable Environment

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

FTag of the Month: 909 Resident Bed

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

FTag of the Month: F812 Food Procurement, Store/Prepare/Sanitary

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

Decoding the MDS 3.0: Are you ready for MDS 3.0?

Use this checklist to help prepare your facility for MDS 3.0
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MDS News and Guidance

Decoding the MDS 3.0: What is happening with Section O: Special Treatments, Procedures, and Programs?

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

FTag of the month: F689 Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices.

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

Navigating the Surveyor Staffing Crunch: How Polaris Mock Surveys Can Help Long-Term Care Facilities Prepare

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

Decoding the MDS 3.0: What is Happening with Section K?

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

Polaris Group Partners with MatrixCare to Improve MDS Assessment Accuracy for Long-Term Care Communities

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

FTag of the Month: F880 – Infection Control and Prevention

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

Decoding the MDS 3.0: What is Happening with Section D?

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.
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MDS News and Guidance

Decoding the MDS 3.0: What is Happening With Section G and Section GG?

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.
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MDS News and Guidance

Decoding the MDS 3.0: What is Happening with Social Determinants of Health?

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

Decoding the MDS 3.0: What Is Happening With Section J?

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

FTag of the Month: Personal Food Policy

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

FTag of the Month: Training Requirements

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

How Peachtree Hills Place achieved a deficiency-free survey with help from a Polaris MDS Coordinator

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

13 Questions to Prepare for on State Surveys

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

How Covenant Living Improved Its Reimbursement Rate and Overcame Staffing Gaps through Polaris Group’s Offsite MDS Coordinator Program

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

The 10 Most Common FTags and How to Address Them

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