**Updated February 4, 2010- Per the January 21, 2010 Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care ODF, you may access the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) article #MM3592: Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Consolidated Billing Service Furnished Under an "Arrangement" with an Outside Entity via the link in the Downloads section below.

*The fifth annual national administration of the Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) is now underway. If you received a letter indicating that you were randomly selected to participate in the 2010 MCPSS, CMS urges you to take a few minutes to go online and complete this important survey via a secure Internet website. Responding online is a convenient, easy, and quick way to provide CMS with your feedback on the performance of the FFS contractor that processes and pays your Medicare claims. Survey questionnaires can also be submitted by mail, secure fax, and over the telephone. To learn more about the MCPSS, please visit the CMS MCPSS website http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcpss or to view the CMS MLN Matters Special Edition article, SE1005 featuring the 2010 MCPSS, please go to the Downloads section below. For questions related to MCPSS, contact Teresa Mundell at Teresa.Mundell@cms.hhs.gov.

**Updated February 1, 2010- January MDS 3.0 Information Update:
• RAI Manual: Chapters 2 and 4 along with Appendix C have been published on the MDS 3.0 homepage (www.cms.hhs.gov/NursingHomeQualityInits/25_NHQIMDS30.asp).
• MDS 3.0 Item Subsets V1.00.1 January 2010: Includes a file called MDS3.0_Item_Changes_v1.00.1.pdf that lists the changes that have made since the previously-posted version to each of the individual item subsets. The previously-posted MDS 3.0 Item Matrix has been moved to Appendix F of the RAI manual. A more detailed version of the item matrix that is intended for software developers is available as part of the MDS 3.0 data submission specifications.
• Information about the upcoming MDS 3.0 training in March and April has also been added to the MDS 3.0 Training Conference Information webpage (www.cms.hhs.gov/NursingHomeQualityInits/40_NHQIMDS30TrainingConferenceInformation.asp). All details regarding the training and registration process is contained within this webpage. Individuals will not be able to get any additional information by contacting CMS staff or submitting questions to MDS30Comments@cms.hhs.gov.

A listserv note will be sent out when additional information becomes available. Any questions about the MDS 3.0 RAI manual can be directed to mds30comments@cms.hhs.gov. Any technical questions pertaining to software development should be directed to Michael.Stoltz@cms.hhs.gov. Responses to questions will be provided during regularly scheduled CMS public teleconferences.

**Updated January 19, 2010- The proposed agenda for the next Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care Open Door Forum scheduled for Thursday, January 21, 2010 is as follows: MDS 3.0 Manual Update, MDS 3.0 Training. This agenda is subject to change. If you wish to participate dial 1-800-837-1935 Conference ID 45248104. Please see the Downloads section below for the full participation announcement. Thank you for your continued interest in the CMS Open Door Forums.

**Updated January 4, 2010- The next Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum is scheduled for Thursday, January 21, 2010 from 2-3pmET. If you wish to participate dial 1-800-837-1935 Conference ID 45248104. Please see the Downloads section below for the full participation announcement, including how to participate in-person. Thank you for your continued interest in the CMS Open Door Forums.

******

Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care Open Door Forum (ODF) Overview: 

The Skilled Nursing Facilities / Long-Term Care Open Door Forum (ODF) addresses the concerns and issues of both the Medicare SNF, the Medicaid NF, and the nursing home industry generally. The types of issues that come up during this forum are often related to the Minimum Data Set, SNF Consolidated Billing, the roles and responsibilities of different SNF, NF or LTC professional staff under CMS regulations, clarifications of issues that are covered during a survey and certification process, and the many rules and requirements under which different related services can be payable. Timely announcements and clarifications regarding important rulemaking, quality program initiatives, and other related areas are also included in the forums.

Downloads
Thursday, January 21, 2010- Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care (PDF, 26KB) Medicare Learning Network Article #MM3592: Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Consolidated Billing Service Furnished Under an "Arrangement" with an Outside Entity (PDF, 66KB) Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Special Edition Article #SE1005: Providers Randomly Selected to Participate in the Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) Urged to Respond  (PDF, 66KB) Tuesday, November 10, 2009- Information Discussion with Department of Health & Human Services on H1N1 (24KB, PDF) AskMedicare e-Newsletter for Caregivers- September/October 2009 (PDF, 35KB) Survey and Cert Letter 09-17 (PDF, 149 KB)  Carrier/FI Directory (PDF, 338KB) Spell of Illness Chart (PDF, 20KB) Quality Improvement Organization Program's 9th Scope of Work (PDF, 24KB)
Related Links Inside CMS
Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care Open Door Forum Mailing List Sign-Up CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities Center Nursing Home Quality Initiatives Medicare Contracting Reform Overview Details for Post Acute Care Payment Reform Demonstration (PAC-PRD) DRA of 2005- Money Follows the Person Grants Nursing Home Action Plan Nursing Home Value Based Purchasing Demo Limitation of Liability & Related Beneficiary Notices Consolidated Billing Annual Update Files for Carriers and FI
Related Links Outside CMS
Government Printing Office Federal Register Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Product Ordering Page Medicare Quality Improvement Community Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) Staff Time and Resource Intensity Verification (STRIVE) Nursing Home Quality Campaign MDS Training QIES Technical Support Office

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