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As long-term care specialists, our unique resources and capabilities have enabled our clients to excel for over 30 years.
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Regulatory Update
Updated Guidance F605: The Right to be Free from Chemical Restraints
Updated Guidance F605: New CMS regulations ensure nursing home residents are protected from unnecessary psychotropic drugs.
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Regulatory Update
New Survey Process “The Bar Has Been Raised”
New nursing home survey process raises compliance standards, emphasizing documentation and resident-centered care.
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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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